Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak in the summer. Oblak has been a part of the Spanish side since 2014 having joined from Benfica for a fee of around €16 million.
As per Sky Sports, Manchester United are considering a move for Oblak, and the Premier League side will have to trigger the £103 million release clause if they are to land him in the summer. The report further states that Manchester United No. 1 David de Gea is considering moving back to Spain and Madrid, where his wife currently works. de Gea is currently on leave following the birth of his child.
The Red Devils reportedly also have Gianluigi Donnarumma of AC Milan and Mike Maignan of Lille on their shortlist.
Jan Oblak: Do they need him?
Jan Oblak is considered as one of the best, if not the best, goalkeeper in the world presently. The 28-year-old has been a consistent performer for Atleti over the years and has made nearly 290 appearances for the club in all competitions. The Slovenian is a commanding keeper who is quick to get off the line and is a good shot-stopper too.
Oblak would be a fantastic addition to the Manchester United side, who have looked shaky defensively, and their No. 1, David de Gea, has been nowhere near his best for quite some time now. The Spaniard, for a long time, was the Red Devils’ standout player, ensuring decent league finishes for the club post-Sir Alex Ferguson’s exit, but has made many mistakes over the last few seasons.
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should consider making a move for Oblak in the summer but will have to set a few things right before proceeding. He will have to sell de Gea, or else they would face a situation as they have this year, where they have an unhappy goalkeeper in Sergio Romero in their ranks. Romero was de Gea’s deputy at the club, but the Argentine hurtled down the pecking order following the return of Dean Henderson.
de Gea is also the highest earner at Manchester United, which means that having him on the bench as Oblak’s deputy would be a terrible decision. Solskjaer must also solve the Henderson problem. The young English keeper has openly stated that he wants to be United’s No. 1 and won’t settle for a place on the bench. Solskjaer should either convince Henderson to be United’s No. 2, or sell him, along with de Gea, and bring in Oblak.
We could potentially see three of Manchester United’s current goalkeepers – David de Gea, Dean Henderson, and Sergio Romero – not be a part of Manchester United’s squad next season if the club decides to buy Jan Oblak. Oblak is one of the best and is in his prime – he will certainly make United stronger defensively, but his signature will not be straightforward and we have to see whether the board goes to such lengths especially when they have unresolved issues in the forward areas.
