Manchester United are mulling over a shock move for Jan Oblak of Atletico Madrid and are open to offering David de Gea in return.
According to The Sun, Jan Oblak has once again emerged as a hot topic in the Manchester United camp. It appears some of Ole-Gunnar Solskjaer’s top advisers have suggested a move for Atletico Madrid this summer, as the club continue their search for a definitive number one next season.
Although the report does not specifically mention Atletico’s demands for Oblak, they believe Man United are open to sending their own David de Gea the other way around in order to lower the fee for the Slovenian international, who is widely regarded as one of the top three goalkeepers in the world.
Since joining from Benfica in 2014, Oblak has made over 300 competitive appearances for the club, reaching the UEFA Champions League final once while playing a vital role in Atletico Madrid’s terrific triumph in Laliga this season, racking up a save percentage rate of over 80%.
David de Gea, in contrast, has had a season to forget, having endured a rapid decline in his game over the past few years ago. He has made many errors, leading to calls over his departure in the summer. The final nail in the coffin came in the UEFA Europa League final, when the Spaniard failed to save any of the 11 penalties, and missed his own to hand Villarreal the trophy.
Manchester United themselves have had a dilemma in choosing between de Gea and Dean Henderson, who is keen on clinching the number one spot in between the sticks at Old Trafford next season.
The potential arrival of Jan Oblak, though, may rain on his parade. It may even lead to Henderson’s departure, having been linked with various clubs including Chelsea and AC Milan among many others.
As for de Gea, a return to Atletico Madrid would make a lot of sense. The Spaniard was a former member of the youth ranks at Atleti, and has his family in Madrid. Oblak’s departure should open up an ideal spot for him in between the sticks, as he looks to help Los Colchoneros successfully retain the league title next season.
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The Manchester United goalkeeper, though, may have to settle for a massive pay cut, as surely Atletico Madrid won’t be able to afford his exorbitant wages, especially in the current financial climate.
