Who could replace David de Gea at Man Utd? David Raya, Dean Henderson, Diogo Costa and more contenders considered

ByThe Editorial Team

Published 08/05/2023 at 10:02 GMT

David de Gea's error against West Ham on Sunday in the Premier League cost Manchester United vital points in the race for a Champions League spot for next season. With the Spaniard's contract up at the end of the season, there is speculation that De Gea could be let go in the summer, with Erik ten Hag considering replacements for the inconsistent goalkeeper.

Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea came under fire this week after his costly blunder handed West Ham a 1-0 Premier League win.

The main sticking point for De Gea and United is believed to be a renegotiation of his wages. He is reportedly on £375,000 a week, which made sense when he was the finest goalkeeper in the world, but is harder to justify now.

With United no longer guaranteed a place in the top four every year, finances are tight, and Ten Hag wants to improve all of his squad. De Gea’s dip in form has come at a worrying time, and that might make cheaper and younger alternatives more appealing.

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Who could step in?

Dean Henderson (Nottingham Forest, on loan from Manchester United)

Dean Henderson has done reasonably well at Nottingham Forest this season, and is better with his feet than De Gea - his main weakness apart from his unreliability.

At 26, Henderson is close to his prime, and has a few years of experience in the Premier League with Forest, United and his loan spell in the top flight with Sheffield United.

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While he might not have the dramatic elasticity of De Gea between the sticks, bringing him back and setting him up in competition with a younger signing could be the pragmatic way forward.

David Raya (Brentford)

Set up as a club to sell high and buy low, a sizeable offer for any Brentford player is likely to be accepted if they think that they have scouted an adequate replacement somewhere around the world.

At 27, Raya is attracting attention from Arsenal and others, and his consistent performances are the antithesis of De Gea’s recent efforts. Better with the ball at his feet than his compatriot - he started his youth career as an outfield player in Spain - he would fit into the more demanding approach from United’s Dutch coach.

BRENTFORD, ENGLAND - JANUARY 02: David Raya of Brentford during the Premier League match between Brentford FC and Liverpool FC at Brentford Community Stadium on January 2, 2023 in Brentford, United Kingdom. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

Image credit: Eurosport

Giorgi Mamardashvili (Valencia)

Valencia are enduring another dreadful season as they flirt with relegation, and whether they go down or not, it is hard to see them keeping Giorgi Mamardashvili.

The Georgian stands at 6’6” and is physically far more imposing that the more reticent De Gea, and if Valencia were to go down he would be an obvious sacrifice to avoid a financial implosion at the Mestalla.

Diogo Costa (Porto)

Another young contender, Diogo Costa at Porto, could be brought in, perhaps as the understudy or rival to Henderson.

After two years as the main man with the Portuguese side, and 12 international caps over the last two years, he is one of the most in-demand younger goalkeepers on the continent. With Porto’s business model based on a decent turnover of their squad to help the bottom line, doing business might be easier than other clubs’ stances.

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Dominik Livakovic (Dinamo Zagreb)

Almost an ever-present for his club, the 28-year-old is his country’s first-choice stopper and has plenty of experience with a high-achieving side.

However, both Dinamo and Croatia are dwarfed by the pressure felt at other clubs and countries, so he may not have had his spirit tested quite as harshly as others in more prominent positions.

He would likely be the cheapest of all the options, and if he was paired with a more experienced signing for a year or two, perhaps upcoming free agent Hugo Lloris, then United could plump for him.

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05/12/2023 at 08:31