As David de Gea's fate as the starting goalkeeper beyond this season is unknown, Manchester United is interested in Anderlecht's Bart Verbruggen. 20-year-old Verbruggen made his Anderlecht debut at the age of 18 two years ago thanks to Vincent Kompany, and he has since appeared 31 times for the Belgian team.
The Dutchman was on the bench for the European Championship qualifying victory over Gibraltar last month after receiving his first call-up to the Netherlands team.
Erik ten Hag, the manager of United, has a preference for players who were raised in the Netherlands. He acquired Tyrell Malacia from Feyenoord and Lisandro Martinez and Antony from Ajax. Ajax academy graduate Christian Eriksen and Dutch international Wout Weghorst are both on loan.
The doubts on David De Gea's future and number one role at Man United
De Gea is anticipated to extend his contract with United, but club officials intend to phase him out, so he may not retain his starting position for the coming season.
At Old Trafford, there are escalating concerns over David de Gea's long-term viability as the team's starting goalkeeper.
Despite manager Erik ten Hag's vocal support for De Gea following his gaffe in the 1-0 loss against West Ham, sources claim some are hesitant to extend De Gea's contract. De Gea, 32, is in his 12th season at United and is approaching the end of his current contract, although he has still not signed a new one.
He has the most clean sheets in the Premier League," Ten Hag reiterated. "So we would not be in this position without him.
"So he has fully my belief, no concerns, that happens but as a team you have to deal with it, you have to show character, be resilient and bounce back and this team will do."
When asked if De Gea would be his No.1 for the long-term, Ten Hag did not directly answer the question: "We want him to stay and we want him to extend his contract."
In light of uncertainties surrounding De Gea's position and the futures of backup goalkeepers Dean Henderson and Tom Heaton, United are open to adding a goalkeeper in the summer.
Heaton's contract expires in the summer, but United have the option of renewing it for a further year, and Henderson, 26, may be out until the beginning of August after having surgery for a thigh issue.
Although it was believed that De Gea's first-choice status would be assured by signing a new contract, it is believed that certain United officials desire to part ways with the Spaniard.
As three of its goalkeepers have contracts that expire in the summer, United employed a recruitment analyst for goalkeepers early this season.
De Gea, 32, is in his final year with United and currently leads the Premier League Golden Gloves clean sheet standings with 15. The Spaniard has, however, made the joint-most mistakes of any Premier League goalkeeper this season with four mistakes that have directly resulted in goals.
De Gea has not been called up since November 2021 and didn't recieve a call up from the Spain national team last year which saw him miss the World Cup tournament in Qatar.
Dean Henderson had an agreement with Covid-19 three weeks prior to the season, and former United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reneged on his promise when the England international regained fitness. Solskjaer had intended to make Henderson the team's undisputed No. 1 for the 2021–22 season.
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