Former Netherlands midfielder Willem van Hanegem has sent a warning to Erik ten Hag and Manchester United after it was reported they were eyeing a move for Justin Bijlow.
Feyenoord goalkeeper Bijlow is said to be on United's radar, with The Athletic reporting over the weekend that an approach had been made. United are looking to sign a goalkeeper and a striker, following a £60million agreement with Chelsea for Mason Mount, who arrived at Carrington for his medical on Monday morning.
Ten Hag is desperate to get a goalkeeper through the door swiftly, with David de Gea technically no longer at the club after his contract expired last week. Dean Henderson is also likely to leave permanently, with a return to Nottingham Forest on the cards.
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The Reds boss wants to bring in a No.1 who will fit his style of play and is more capable of playing out from the back. Bijlow definitely fits the bill in that sense, but Van Hanegem, who spent eight years at Feyenoord, believes the 25-year-old's shot-stopping has suffered as a result.
“Look, he is by far the best 'keeper we have,” Van Hanegem told the AD Willem&Wessel podcast. “But he is now only concerned with ‘how can I play football’. Before he got injured, he was much less concerned with that. Almost never. Now, he wants to show (everything he has), but it’s not necessary at all.
“I just thought he was very bad at goalkeeping with the Dutch national team. For him, it was blunders. You have to be honest. If he doesn’t keep (the goal) well, he’s not good.”
Fresh talks are set to take place with De Gea over his future, with United weighing up the possibility of renewing the 32-year-old's contract on reduced terms amid Financial Fair Play concerns.
