David De Gea seems unwilling to sign a new contract with Manchester United; or at least, he’s not looking to do it unless things get done on his own terms. The Spaniard is looking for £400,000-a-week wages and wants to be highest-paid goalkeeper in the world… but he is looking to sign that kind of deal when he’s coming off his worst season in quite a long time. There are no doubts regarding his quality as a world-class shot-stopper, but the timing of these demands seems odd, at least.
With that in mind, Manchester United are already looking at alternatives. According to a report from the Daily Record, The Red Devils are beginning to test the market looking for the Spaniard’s potential replacement. And within that context, the name of Jasper Cillessen has stood out among other options.
The Dutch international is already 30 years old, but has a lot of experience under his belt. And considering his situation – he’s tired of being the second-choice goalkeeper at Barcelona – all signs point towards him playing elsewhere next season. Let’s be honest here; he has no chance to remove Marc-Andre ter Stegen from the starting role. The former Ajax star already expressed his desire to leave the Camp Nou this summer. Could he end up at Old Trafford instead?
It seems everything depends on what happens with De Gea. The former Atletico Madrid goalkeeper will enter a club-triggered 12-month extension of his current deal. But if he doesn’t sign a new deal by July, then he’d be free to talk to other clubs over a potential transfer in 2020 during January next year. Considering Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus and Real Madrid are all interested in his services, Manchester United should do everything they can to secure De Gea. Or at the very least, they can try to sell him in order to get some profit back. It would be disappointing to let him leave for free.
But within that context, Cillessen could be a good alternative if De Gea leaves. He’s nowhere near the Spaniard in terms of quality, but he’s way above average. Plus, Cillessen represents an upgrade over Sergio Romero. To make things even better, he also boasts incredible international experience. Cillessen has already won 48 caps with the Oranjes throughout his career as well.
Considering how things stand with De Gea at the moment, Manchester United should – at least – kick the tires on the Cillessen situation. It’s never too early to find a replacement, especially between the posts. And if De Gea leaves, then The Red Devils need to act quickly. What better way to solve the situation of his departure than finding a quick replacement?
De Gea wants to leave and Cillessen is aiming to get more playing time. This swap would certainly fit both players.
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