As per latest reports in the Sun, Brighton and Hove Albion custodian Mathew Ryan has emerged as a shock target for Manchester United. It is believed that United are preparing for life without their Spanish goalkeeper David De Gea after he has reportedly decided not to sign a new deal at Old Trafford.
The 27-year-old currently has his contract until the next summer with an option to extend it for another year. However, it’s clear that United are looking to tie him in a longer deal and rightly so as the Spaniard has been one of the primary reasons why United finished second last season.
Mat Ryan, on the other hand, has been impressive for the Seagulls and his current form is also fantastic as he has kept a hat-trick of clean sheets. The Australian has slowly gone on to become one of the major players for Chris Hughton, and there have been numerous occasions in the past when Ryan’s heroic has saved Brighton’s day.
Ryan might be good but what De Gea has been for United in the past few years is unmatchable, and the club should try everything in their means to keep hold of the Spanish international. De Gea’s reputation took a lot of beating for his displays in the World Cup in Russia, but even then, he still happens to be the best player that United have currently.
Reports also say that Jose Mourinho is currently not confident of keeping his no.1 at Manchester and Juventus and Paris Saint Germain are said to be the possible suitors for the Spanish international. This is not the first time when De Gea’s future at United has been under question as the goalkeeper had been close to moving to Real Madrid several times in the past few years. However, the Galacticos went on to sign Chelsea’s Thibaut Courtois in the summer opting out of the race for De Gea at the moment
French heavyweights PSG are willing to pay whatever United’s demands are as they try to win the Champions League title which has eluded them so far. In that case, the Red Devils might look to cash in on De Gea, and someone like Mat Ryan wouldn’t cost a bomb as a replacement. Mourinho can use the rest of the money to invest somewhere else in the squad. Therefore, United can still come out as winners by selling De Gea.
However, his sale will not go well with the fans who are already unhappy with the business which the club has been doing in the past few seasons. United are a big club, and they don’t usually sell their best players in their prime, but if the 27-year-old isn’t willing to sign a long-term deal, then United need to be prepared with a contingency plan, and Ryan fits the bill.
