Manchester United target Bart Verbruggen as David de Gea replacement as contract talks stall - Paper Round
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ByEurosport
Updated 20/03/2023 at 08:40 GMT
Manchester United hope to sign Anderlecht goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen as a potential replacement for David de Gea, whose contract may expire this summer. Elsewhere, Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy and the club's players react to Antonio Conte's outburts, and Italian side Roma have reduced their asking price for Aston Villa striking target Tammy Abraham.
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United target De Gea replacement
Manchester United want to sign 20-year-old Anderlecht goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, with no signs of an imminent contract renewal for David de Gea.
United have an option to extend his deal unilaterally for a further year but remain in talks for an extension on fresh terms, and The Mirror reports that Verbruggen is one name who could arrive this summer.
“The Red Devils could be set to sign another keeper at the end of the season and the Netherlands youth international has emerged as a potential target,” the paper states.
“David de Gea is out of contract in the summer, and although United are in talks to strike a new deal, Ten Hag may well look for a long-term replacement.
“De Gea, 32, is coming to the end of his 12th season at Old Trafford since his £18.9 million move from Atletico Madrid in 2011. Earlier this month, the United No.1 was presented with an award for breaking the record for the most clean sheets in the Red Devils' history. He has now kept 183 shut outs in 528 matches.
“The 20-year-old has become Anderlecht's first-choice 'keeper since the World Cup and has since put in a number of excellent performances for the Belgian side. Verbruggen produced a sensational display for Anderlecht and kept a clean sheet against Villarreal as they booked their place in the quarter-final of the Europa Conference League.”
Tottenham hold crisis talks over Conte future
After Antonio Conte’s remarkable and sustained outburst at the weekend, it appears he could be on his way out after crisis talks with chairman Daniel Levy.
The Tottenham chief could take the opportunity to sack Conte in the coming days with no game until the start of April.
“Tottenham and Antonio Conte have held crisis talks following a stunning verbal assault on his players with chairman Daniel Levy set to gauge opinion before deciding his head coach's future,” the report claims in The Mail.
“The Italian laid into his players during a series of explosive post-match interviews in which he questioned their desire and attitude.
“Conte also appeared to take aim at the Spurs board during his extraordinary and sustained rant.
“But during talks on Saturday night, Conte is understood to have explained to members of the board that his comments were only aimed at the players and not the hierarchy.
“It is understood Levy has accepted Conte's version of events and the Italian remained in his role on Sunday morning.
“The former Chelsea boss, however, remains at risk with Levy preparing to speak to his most trusted confidants this week over the matter.
“Tottenham don't play again until April 3, when they travel to Everton, meaning Levy is under no immediate rush to make a decision.”
Abraham targeted for Villa return
Roma are willing to let Tammy Abraham go for much less than they would have previously considered. The Sun states that there was once a valuation of more than £60 million, but it could now take an offer of around half that to secure his signature, with suggestions that Villa want him back.
The paper explains: “An offer of more than £35m could be enough to secure his services. That is just under half of the earlier figure reported by Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“Abraham, 25, previously spent the 2018-19 season on loan from Chelsea at Villa Park.
“He helped the club secure promotion to the Premier League, netting 26 goals in 40 appearances for the club.”
Spurs players ready to see Conte leave
Perhaps unsurprisingly after his criticism, the Express reports that Tottenham’s players are ready to see Conte go from North London.
“Some of Tottenham's first-team players would allegedly welcome the immediate sacking of Antonio Conte following the Italian's explosive attack on his squad after their disastrous 3-3 draw at Southampton on Saturday,” the Express reports of the fallout from the weekend’s explosion.
“Spurs were well on course to secure a vital three points in the race for Champions League football, courtesy of goals from Pedro Porro, Harry Kane and Ivan Perisic before a sudden defensive collapse as Theo Walcott and James Ward-Prowse struck two late goals to rescue a point for the hosts.
“The gutting result and lack of character left Conte furious following the full-time whistle, where tensions boiled over following weeks of frustration behind the scenes in north London.
“Conte's savage rant did not sit well with some of Tottenham's players and some of them would now be on board with his immediate dismissal.”
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