Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford with his contract set to expire in a year’s time.
The Red Devils looking for a replacement for the Spaniard as current No. 2 Sergio Romero is not deemed to be good enough to be Manchester United’s No. 1.
As a result, the club have been linked with a move for French goalkeeper Mike Maignan for a fee of around €35 million, as per Daily Record.
Mike Maignan – Fact file
The 23-year-old goalkeeper had a stellar campaign with French side Lille, who finished second in Ligue 1, while Maignan was named the Goalkeeper of the Year for keeping most clean sheets in the season (15).
Maignan was part of Paris Saint-Germain’s youth set-up before he moved to Lille and was part of their reserves.
The Frenchman became a key player for Lille and their No. 1 in the 2017-18 season, before having a breakthrough year in the 2018-19 season, where he played 42 games in all competitions, keeping 17 clean sheets.
Maignan’s contract with the French club expires next year. The Red Devils will have to compete with the likes of Ajax and PSG who are also reportedly interested in securing his signature.
The Frenchman has not represented the French national team, but he has been called up to the national team for next month’s Euro 2020 qualifiers.
Should Manchester United make a move for Maignan?
The 6’3″ Maignan has shown that he’s a good shot-stopper with good reflexes and is a good long-range shot-stopper as well.
The 23-year-old could improve over time and become an even better player than he is now.
However, Maignan is not tested at the highest level of football as Ligue 1 is not as highly-rated as the Premier League.
The Frenchman has also not played in Europe with Lille, and neither has he played for the national team, which could perhaps make the United hierarchy unsure about the transfer.
The Red Devils had signed their current No. 1 David de Gea when he was 20, and with good coaching, he became one of the best in the world.
However, with United in a lull and going through a transition period, it would make sense for the club to sign someone who is a little more experienced and has played top-flight football in a competitive league.
