(Football news) Manchester United have submitted a bid to sign Newcastle United goalkeeper Martin Dubravka on loan for the remainder of the season. According to Fabrizio Romano, Manchester United are in the hunt for a new goalkeeper as they want to provide some competition to David De Gea and have tabled a bid to sign Martin Dubravka on a season-long loan deal, with an option to buy him next summer for around the £5 million.
Manchester United wanted to bring in an experienced goalkeeper who is quite comfortable with the ball at his feet to compete with David de Gea for number position. The Spaniard has been the club’s No.1 for more than 10 years now, but his adaptability to Erik ten Hag’s style has been questioned due to his blunders in the devastating defeats to Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford earlier this month. Veteran Tom Heaton has been the second goalkeeper in the squad since Dean Henderson is loaned out to Nottingham Forest. Ten Hag is eager to bring in a more competent keeper to challenge the out-of-form de Gea who is coming under extensive criticism but he still will likely still remain Manchester United’s first-choice for the foreseeable future.
Manchester United have been linked with a move for Eintracht Frankfurt goalkeeper Kevin Trapp but the interest seems to have cooled down. Yann Sommer of Monchengladbach was also a potential target for the Red Devils but the Swiss international was not sure of making a move to Old Trafford over concerns of seeing a lack of action as a second-choice keeper especially when the World Cup is round the corner. Norwich City’s Tim Krul and Watford’s Daniel Bachmann were also considered but those players are no improvement on current backup Heaton. Manchester United have now their radar shifted to Newcastle United goalie Martin Dubravka.
Dubravka arrived at Newcastle in January 2018 on loan from Sparta Praha before making the move permanent the next summer. The 33-year-old has been the no. 1 for Newcastle in the Premier League games between 2018 and 2020. He was also named Newcastle’s Player of the Year in the 2019/20 campaign for his contribution in saving the Magpies from relegation. This is not the first time Dubravka’s name has been floated around at Old Trafford. Manchester United made an attempt for the goalkeeper back in January, with rumours over a possible swap deal at the time involving Dean Henderson. Dubravka was not keen on the move back then as he was Newcastle’s number 1.
The situation is different now with the arrival of Nick Pope in the summer and since then the Slovakian international has fallen down the pecking order under Eddie Howe. Dubravka’s representatives are set to hold talks with Newcastle United owners this week following Manchester United’s bid, with the player very keen on a move to Old Trafford. The 33-year-old missed Newcastle United's game against Tranmere Rovers this week with the club officially stating he was ill. Talks between Manchester United and Newcastle United are currently underway and he could join Man United before the transfer deadline on September 1.
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