'%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)
Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Hugo Lloris is being lined up as a replacement for David de Gea should the Manchester United custodian move to Real Madrid, The Independent reports. The 28-year-old has been linked with United on a number of occasions, but the recent one comes hot on the heels of French newspaper L’Equipe reporting that Los Blancos could make an offer of £21 million for De Gea.
The 24-year-old Spaniard is entering the final year of his contract at Old Trafford and with Real’s long-serving goalkeeper Iker Casillas leaving the club for Porto, De Gea could be tempted to push for a move. He has hinted that he is interested in a move back to Spain, having come through the ranks at Los Blancos’ arch rivals, Atletico Madrid.
United manager Louis van Gaal is also understood to be keen on a decision to be made on the transfer issue sooner rather than later as he felt it was not favourable to either of the clubs involved.
"We have a situation that is not favourable for David De Gea, neither for us and neither for the club that, maybe, he wants to go," the Dutchman had said after United’s 2-0 loss against Paris Saint-Germain in the final of the International Champions Cup where De Gea’s mistake had led to the opening goal.
With indications that the Spaniard could be heading towards the exit door, the rumours linking Lloris to United have resurfaced once again. The Frenchman is the Spurs skipper and signed a new five-year contract with the club last summer.
But that will not deter United as they look to bring in a top-class keeper to replace the club’s Player of the Season the last two years running. They have also been linked with Madrid’s Keylor Navas and Ajax keeper Jasper Cillessen
A summer of goalkeeper upheavals at United
Should the De Gea transfer go through and Lloris come in as his replacement, it will bring an end to an astonishing summer at United with a number of changes in personnel between the posts.
Argentina’s first-choice goalkeeper Sergio Romero arrived on a free transfer after his contract with Italian club Sampdoria ran out at the end of the 2014/15 season. But he is expected to be second choice at United after the current No 2 Victor Valdes was told that he doesn’t have a future at Old Trafford by manager Louis van Gaal.
Reserve goalkeeper Ben Amos was released by the club and has since signed for Championship side Bolton Wanderers while there are unconfirmed reports that the other reserve keeper Anders Lindegaard could also be let go.
Sam Johnstone kept goal for United in the absence of the injured De Gea at the start of United’s pre-season tour and the club have since rebuffed a loan approach for him from Preston.
