3 goalkeeping alternatives for Man Utd now Lloris is crocked
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Iker Casillas’ emotional farewell from Real Madrid, and subsequent arrival at Porto, finally set the goalkeeping merry-go-round rumouroligists have been speculating over in motion.
The expected domino-effect of the Spanish icon’s Bernabeu departure was that David De Gea would return to his home city and Manchester United would fill his gloves with Hugo Lloris.
That plan swerved off course with the news that Spurs’ captain is a major doubt for the start of the new Premier League season after suffering a fractured wrist in the summer.
Should Real Madrid continue to pursue De Gea, then the Red Devils will need to find a fit replacement, unless they want Victor Valdes to dust off his gloves more regularly.
Here are three options for the 11/2 title chasers:
Yann Sommer – Borussia Monchengladbach
The Swiss international hasn’t really been linked to Old Trafford at all, but he should be. Bought to replace the Barcelona-bound Marc-Andre ter Stegen last summer, Sommer enjoyed a superb campaign with Gladbach.
His 15 league clean sheets bettered De Gea’s seasonal tally by four and the 26-year-old also made 3.52 saves-per-goal during his debut Bundesliga season, again beating De Gea’s mark.
Jasper Cillessen – Ajax
Louis Van Gaal knows all about the merits of the 26-year-old, having used him as his number one during the 2014 World Cup.
Like Sommer, the Ajax stopper’s stats from last season compare favourably to De Gea’s, which is quite a feather in the cap for the Dutchman considering how important the Real Madrid target was to the Red Devils’ cause.
12 clean sheets and a saves-per-goal percentage of 2.52 both beat the Spaniard’s tallies and the player himself is reportedly open to an Old Trafford switch.
Sergio Romero – Unattached
Despite being deemed surplus to requirements at Sampdoria this summer, Romero travelled to Chile for the recent Copa America as Argentina’s number one and put himself firmly in the shop window, with only two keepers making more saves during the tournament.
His record doesn’t suggest he should be pursued ahead of the other two names on this list, but as a solid stopper to be used as a short term option, on a free transfer too, he warrants consideration.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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