'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Jan Oblak
It is well known that Atletico Madrid has always been home to many prolific goalkeepers in recent years and the side from the Spanish Capital now have another young, rising goalkeeper in their ranks.
Jan Oblak has successfully replaced Thibaut Courtois as Atletico Madrid’s keeper and has already shown signs of reaching the same level of personal success. He could also possibly be following De Gea and Courtois to the Premier League and has what it takes to replace De Gea at Manchester United. He is just 22 years of age, and, therefore, moving for him too would be a potential long-term decision.
The Slovenian made his mark with Benfica during the 2013/14 season when he became the Portuguese club’s first choice keeper midway through the season. He kept several clean sheets in his first few starts, of which the notable ones were against Porto in the league and against Juventus in the Europa League.
At the end of the season, he won the Best Goal Keeper of the Year award in Portugal after only conceding 3 goals in 13 games.
Petr Cech
If Manchester United want to buy a goalkeeper who is as good as De Gea or even better without considering the long term advantages, then they don’t need to look further than Petr Cech.
Cech was part of the PFA Team of the Year for the 2013/14 season but was benched by Mourinho in favour of Courtois for the 2014/15 season. He wasn’t dropped because he was no longer on top of his game, but because the manager could not afford to lose a goalkeeper as young and talented as Courtois. True to his reputation, Cech has put in brilliant performances every time he played this season.
The 33-year-old has at least a couple of good seasons left in him and has already made it clear that he doesn’t wish to play a backup role next season. Under these circumstances, it is looking more and more likely that the Czech international will leave the club in the summer.
There is no doubt that Cech will be a great addition to Manchester United, but it remains to be seen if Jose Mourinho and Chelsea wish to sell a player of Cech’s abilities to a direct rival.
Jasper Cillessen
Since Louis van Gaal took over at Manchester United, many Dutch internationals have been linked with a move to the club and two players, namely Daley Blind and Memphis Depay have already joined the club.
The latest Dutch International to be linked with the Manchester United is Ajax’s goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen and the rumours surfaced as soon as talks of De Gea’s potential move to Real Madrid gathered momentum.
Cillessen took some time to breakthrough into Ajax’s first team and it was only in 2013, aged 24 that he became the Dutch club’s first choice keeper. Even though he was a late bloomer, he has taken massive strides from there on.
He was the Netherlands’ first choice custodian at the 2014 FIFA World Cup ahead of the likes of Tim Krul and Michel Vorm, and this indicates the faith Van Gaal has in Cillessen. The Ajax man repaid his manager’s faith in full with some brilliant performances for his country at Brazil.
If De Gea leaves for Real Madrid, then Van Gaal won’t have any trouble in luring his compatriot to England and their familiarity working with each other could prove to be helpful in making this a successful move.
