Paolo Zanetti, the manager of Empoli, has acknowledged that Guglielmo Vicario is unlikely to remain with the team for the upcoming campaign.
Vicario, 26, has been Zanetti's go-to man this season after giving up 40 goals in just 31 games for the team in the bottom half of the table. United are examining the goalkeeper as a possible David de Gea replacement, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.
De Gea's contract expires this month, and Erik ten Hag is certain that he will agree to an extension. He hasn't been as clear, though, about the part the Spaniard will play in 2019.
According to reports from several football source, United is aiming to significantly reduce De Gea's pay. While Tom Heaton's future is uncertain, Jack Butland will be going back to Crystal Palace.
When asked about the future of his top player ahead of the summer transfer window, Zanetti, unhappily for Empoli fans, expressed his intention to sell the player.
"I don’t think that he’ll stay here," the manager told the media after a 1-1 draw with Verona.
"I think that after the two seasons that he’s had here, he deserves to go to a big club. My hope is that he can go somewhere to play at a very high level of football."
"That’s where he deserves to be, and not just because he’s a great player on the pitch," Empoli's boss asserted.
It is thought Ten Hag would have to bid around €25m to secure Vicario's services. However, Jose Mourinho had reportedly made a £15 million bid for the 26 year old but was rejected.
David De Gea's contract saga
According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Man United and De Gea are "really close" to agreeing on a new contract.
He told GIVEMESPORT: "At the moment for De Gea, the agreement is really close.
"As we know, Man Utd are looking to extend De Gea and sign a new backup goalkeeper.
"So, this is the idea. For De Gea, it's about the final details."
De Gea's current deal expires at the end of the current campaign, but a new one appears to be in the works, meaning he will remain at Old Trafford. It is unknown if his present weekly salary of £375,000 would be increased.
For recording the most clean sheets, the 32-year-old received the Premier League Golden Glove award. The second-placed Alisson Becker had three less clean sheets than his Manchester United counterpart, who had 17.
Speaking recently, Manchester United's captain, Harry Maguire had plenty of praise for his defensive teammate. The Englishman said: "He's been amazing this season. I think of the things I can say about him."
"He's made big saves in big moments and that's what David does. When we need him and he's called upon, he makes big saves. He's had an amazing season and It's one I'm sure he'll be really proud of."
Although De Gea has received accolades, there are still uncertainties about his long-term position in the Premier League.
No goalkeeper in the Premier League has committed more errors leading to goals than the Spaniard's four, which came to light after his horrendous error against West Ham that allowed Said Benrahma to score.
De Gea was outstanding for United this season despite everything. It's tough to imagine a scenario in which Erik ten Hag and his team would have finished in the top four this season without his 17 shutouts.
Retaining De Gea's services is a wise decision, especially given the more urgent issues the team must solve during the summer transfer window.
However, Gary Neville, Manchester United's legend, believes that David de Gea must leave the Red Devils either soon or in the summer of 2024.
The end of the current season will mark the end of the Spain international's contract with the Old Trafford team. How long the 32-year-old will remain at the Manchester-based club is unknown.
Neville, though, asserted during an interview with Sky Bet's The Overlap on YouTube that United should search for a fresh top spot. If not right away, the former defender thinks the Red Devils should at least get rid of De Gea the next season.
"They do need to get rid of him either now or if they’ve not got the money then obviously a year later is the maximum.”
The Spaniard has now played for the Old Trafford team for more than ten years. The 32-year-old was acquired by the Manchester-based team from Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2011, and ever since then, he has been the first choice.
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