Publications
Partners
Cape Town - Manchester United appear to be preparing for life without Spanish goalkeeper David De Gea but which goalkeepers are in the running to replace him?
The Old Trafford club have offered the former Atletico Madrid goalkeeper a reported £250,000-a-week to extend his current deal, which expires at the end of next season.
"You will have to ask David de Gea (if he is staying), not me. He has to sign. We have offered him a lot of money." said Van Gaal, when asked whether the player will be staying (Read the full story HERE!) at the club next season.
With the lure of returning to his homeland, where his family and girlfriend still live, and to play at the most successful club in the world seems too good an opportunity to turned down.
On Tuesday, De Gea was named the club's Player of the Season - matching Cristiano Ronaldo as the only player to win in consecutive seasons - the Player's Player of the Season and Fans' Player of the Season but it appears that will do little to deter Real Madrid from moving for De Gea with reports in Spain already suggesting a deal has been reached with the player.
Should De Gea make the move to Real Madrid, Sport24 looks at those likely to be in the running to replace him:
1. PETR CECH (Chelsea)
The 33-year-old goalkeeper has already established himself as one of the world's best goalkeepers. He brings a wealth of experience after 11 seasons at Stamford Bridge. Cech's agent has recently revealed that the goalkeeper is open to an Old Trafford switch, making Manchester United along with PSG and Arsenal, as his next possible destination.
2. HUGO LLORIS (Tottenham Hotspur)
The French national team goalkeeper is desperate to return to the Champions League stage, something that Spurs cannot offer next season. Any deal for Lloris will come at a price with chairman Daniel Levy being known as one of the hardest negotiators in world football.
3. JASPER CILLESSEN (Ajax Amsterdam)
The Dutch number one is the newest candidate to take up the gloves should De Gea depart this summer. Louis van Gaal enjoys a fine relationship with the 26-year-old goalkeeper and could join the likes of Robin Van Persie, Daley Blind and Memphis Depay as Netherlands 2014 Soccer World Cup stars to join Van Gaal at Manchester United.
4. SAMIR HANDANOVIC (Inter Milan)
The 30-year-old Slovenian is in a similar position to De Gea in that he has one year left on his deal at Inter Milan. Handanovic has also been on Real Madrid's radar according to reports in England.
5. ASMIR BEGOVIC (Stoke City)
Begovic is 28-year-old in the summer and is likely to be in the running to replace De Gea at United, Cech at Chelsea and also to take the number one position at Arsenal. The Stoke City goalkeeper is also entering his final year at the club and could present Manchester United a cheaper alternative to the other candidates, bearing in mind that Victor Valdes could rival any new signing for the starting berth at the Red Devils.
Follow Sport24's Wade Pretorius on Twitter: @wadepretorius
