Manchester United target Bart Verbruggen outlined in a recent interview how playing with the ball at his feet is his biggest quality.
MEN Sport understands that United are interested in Verbruggen, with uncertainty over De Gea's role as the club's No.1 growing. The 32-year-old has been first-choice at Old Trafford since his arrival in 2011, but a number of high-profile errors - most recently in the 1-0 defeat at West Ham - and a lack of quality on the ball has raised concerns.
De Gea's current contract is set to expire this summer, with United opting against a 12-month extension as they want to lower his £375,000-per-week wages. Talks over a new deal have been ongoing for some time, but his role as No.1 can no longer be assured and figures at the club are planning to phase him out.
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Errors such as the one at the London Stadium on Saturday bring with them plenty of attention on De Gea, but more concerning for Ten Hag would be mistakes with the ball at his feet. Brentford's 4-0 defeat in August saw the Spaniard play Christian Eriksen into trouble for the second goal, while an inability to bring down a long clearance saw Sevilla's Youssef En-Nesyri race through to score the final goal of his side's 3-0 Europa League second leg win last month.
Ten Hag has made no secret of his desire to have a goalkeeper who can play out from the back, admitting he 'can't ignore' the Spaniard's issues in possession after the 4-1 win over Real Betis in March. It is no coincidence, then, that they have set their sights on Verbruggen.
“I have one core quality and that is my feet," the 20-year-old told Belgian outlet HLN in February. "I feel very comfortable on the ball, I excel at that.”
A Dutch international who has been at Anderlecht since 2020, the goalkeeper has excelled with the ball at his feet throughout his development - a huge positive not lost on the goalkeeper recruitment analyst that United hired earlier this season.
Ten Hag has made a habit of signing players accustomed to the modern Dutch style of play, with compatriot Tyrell Malacia as well as former Ajax duo Lisandro Martinez and Antony arriving last summer, while Wout Weghorst arrived on loan from Burnley in January.
That contingent could increase this summer if they sign Verbruggen, and the Anderlecht star is evidently confident he can improve on De Gea's major issues.
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