Manchester United are keeping close tabs on Dinamo Zagreb shot-stopper Dominik Livakovic, it has been claimed.
A Manchester United scout was in the crowd during Dinamo Zagreb’s Champions League first-leg fixture on Thursday to take notes on Livakovic, as per The Sun.
The Croatian side inked a 2-0 win over Norwegian outfit Rosenberg, wherein he bagged a clean sheet and was solid between the sticks for his side.
Capped on six occasions by the Croatian national team, Livakovic was a part of the squad which finished runners-up in the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Besides, the 24-year has helped his current club in clinching the Croatian top-flight title in the last two seasons and is a prized asset on their books.
It has been further stated by the report that signing him could cost around £15million to £20million, which shouldn’t be a problem for the Red Devils.
The Mirror, meanwhile, have reported that Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur have also monitored him in the recent past and could remain in the loop if any possible move arises.
Why Manchester United should sign him?
Signed from Atletico Madrid back in 2011, de Gea has registered 278 Premier League appearances for Manchester United and has mustered 101 clean sheets in the process.
Although he is the first-choice shot-stopper for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side, his form has been in decline following Spain’s early exit from the World Cup last year.
The Spanish international was at fault for a number of goals which his side conceded last season and has been far from impressive this season as well.
After conceding a goal in the 1-1 draw with Wolves, he was beaten at his near post by Patrick van Aanholt in injury time on Saturday in Crystal Palace’s 2-1 win over Manchester United which was incidentally their first-ever win over the Old Trafford outfit in the league.
Intriguingly, de Gea has entered into the final year of his contract with his current club but is yet to commit his long-term future to them.
A couple of years back, a David de Gea-less United team was unimaginable given his displays since Sir Alex’s retirement but now is a good time to start scouring for options and not solely rely on the Spaniard’s decision on when he wants to sign the contract.
Although Manchester United have Sergio Romero and Lee Grant as their back-up goalkeepers, none of them has managed to stake a claim for a permanent role in the starting XI and there will certainly be an addition to the goalkeeping department in the next couple of transfer windows at Old Trafford.