Manchester United desperately need to clarify their goalkeeper situation as we count down to pre-season.
This week the club announced they were still in negotiations with David de Gea over a new deal. Erik ten Hag has explained how much he wants to keep the Spaniard at the club but has refused to guarantee him being the club's No.1 should he sign a new contract.
MEN Sport understands Anderlecht's Bart Verbruggen is a player who interests Ten Hag but he would be seen as a back up to De Gea. One player who has been touted as a new addition is Brentford's David Raya.
Raya has replaced De Gea in the Spain squad and the Bees already seem resigned to his departure this summer. In an interview with The Times, the 27-year-old expressed his desire to find a new challenge but added there could be an obstacle between himself and a new chapter.
ALSO READ: Raya issues Brentford transfer plea
"I know there are rumours about me leaving," he said. "There are some options for me to go but obviously Brentford are asking for a lot of money.
"That could make clubs not want to buy me, it could make them look somewhere else. But if that’s the value they give me then it’s up to them. I have a year left on my contract and until then I’m a Brentford player, there’s nothing I can do."
It is understood the Bees want £45million for the former Blackburn Rovers man and at that price the shot stopper hs every right to feel concerned about clubs like United pulling out, particularly with the Reds in a difficult position to splash the cash.
Ten Hag has several areas of his squad to improve and spending too much on a goalkeeper impact his plans elsewhere while the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the takeover means the Dutchman is unaware of his summer budget. It means spending big on a player such as Raya seems like a move that doesn't need to be made.
A Manchester Evening News special souvenir edition - Fergie's First - charts United's 1992/93 title-winning campaign and you can get your hands on one here
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