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Manchester United are interested in signing goalkeeper Jan Oblak from Atletico Madrid as a replacement for David de Gea, according to Spanish Daily newspaper Marca. Atletico Madrid have rejected the £25 million bid for the young keeper, who is the club’s first choice keeper after making 22 appearances for them in the previous season. It is reported that the Red Devils signed Sergio Romero after this bid was rejected.
Jan Oblak began his career with Olimpija Ljubljana before moving to Benfica at the age of 17. He was loaned out to four Portuguese clubs until 2013 following which he returned to the club to help them win the domestic treble.
He was named as the Best Goalkeeper of the Year due to his impressive performances in the 2013/14 season of the Portuguese League, which earned him a £12.6 million move to the Vicente Calderon, making him the most expensive goalkeeper in La Liga history and the eighth most expensive in football history.
David de Gea’s future at Manchester United looks bleak after he was dropped from the squad by manager Louis van Gaal for not being in the right frame of mind before the first match of the season against Tottenham. He has been involved in one of the biggest transfer sagas of the summer and looks likely to start the new campaign in the La Liga with Real Madrid, although he would only be let go if United receive a reasonable offer before the end of the transfer window.
De Gea will be sold to Real Madrid only for a reasonable fee: Van Gaal
Van Gaal was adamant about this fact when he was questioned by the press about de Gea’s future at the club, insisting that he will only part with Spaniard if Real Madrid make a satisfactory bid for the player.
“Manchester United have to pay for all the players at a certain amount. And what has Madrid offered?” he asked, as reported in The Telegraph.
"Then you are saying in a suggestive way that we have to be proactive, but we are asking money and they have to pay money. In the last few years, Manchester United has paid a lot and we haven’t received a lot of money, so no [we will not sell for an unsatisfactory fee].”
United have not actively pursued a replacement for de Gea, but that is set to change with their interest in Jan Oblak. The Slovenian international could join Sergio Romero at the Old Trafford, with the Argentine goalkeeper coming in to replace Victor Valdes, who was shown the door after not following the Van Gaal philosophy at the club.
Ferdinand tells United to forget title challenge if they lose David De Gea
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand claimed that Manchester United won’t be able to challenge for the title if they lose David de Gea, according to his column for The Sun.
"If Manchester United lose David de Gea they can forget about a title challenge.”
“A club like United cannot allow a keeper of De Gea’s stature to leave because the transfer fee they receive from Real Madrid will not make up for missing out on major trophies", Ferdinand added.
