Paris St. Germain Listed as +300 Favorites to Sign David De Gea

 Paris St. Germain Listed as +300 Favorites to Sign David De Gea

  • PSG emerge as +300 favorites to sign Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea
  • De Gea expected to leave United this summer with Dean Henderson set to start next season
  • United interested in West Brom’s Sam Johnstone to replace De Gea

Manchester United are likely to finish as runners-up in the Premier League at season’s end, but the Red Devils could look a little different next term. It is widely believed that longtime goalkeeper David De Gea will leave the club in the summer, which means Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be tasked with finding a replacement.

Some believe United’s current backup, Dean Henderson, would make for a logical fill-in, but United will likely scour the transfer market in search of another option. ESPN FC reported Tuesday that United have an eye on West Brom goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, who is also likely to receive interest from Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham this summer.

Johnstone May Prefer West Ham

Johnstone is a familiar face at Old Trafford after having spent nine years at the club as he progressed through the youth academy earlier in his career. He was sold to West Brom for £6.5 million back in 2018, where he has quickly cemented himself as one of the most impressive young keepers in England.

While Henderson will still have a chance to earn a full-time starting job, United are believed to be interested in signing an experienced keeper to provide some competition. The 28-year-old Johnstone would certainly fit the bill, and Solskjaer is reportedly an admirer.

De Gea, meanwhile, is unlikely to accept a backup role at United next season, which is why he is expected to find a new home this offseason. Henderson has impressed whenever he has gotten opportunities under Solskjaer in recent years, while De Gea’s star has fallen.

De Gea to PSG?

The Spaniard has been United’s first-choice keeper since 2011. He was set to leave the club for Real Madrid on a £29 million transfer in August of 2015, but the move fell apart because the clubs failed to submit the paperwork before the deadline passed. De Gea wound up signing a new four-year deal with United shortly thereafter.

West Brom are reportedly interested in keeping Johnstone, though it remains to be seen whether Johnstone has interest in returning to Old Trafford. Johnstone didn’t make a single first-team appearance at United despite spending nearly a decade as club property.

His time with the team included seven different loan spells, and Johnstone would reportedly prefer to move to West Ham instead. Johnstone is familiar with West Ham boss David Moyes after the two spent time together at United in the past. West Ham are reportedly prepared to offer Johnstone a regular starting role next season, which wouldn’t be the case at Old Trafford with Henderson likely to be the first-choice stopper.

Other Options for United

If United miss out on Johnstone, the Red Devils may well pursue Aston Villa veteran keeper Tom Heaton instead. Heaton hasn’t started a game for Villa in over a year, but the 35-year-old is another player familiar with Old Trafford after rising up through the club’s youth system.

Man Utd eye Tom Heaton transfer as David De Gea replacement after Sam Johnstone snubhttps://t.co/7PhqPzIjQC pic.twitter.com/OeosF9s55Z

— Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) May 4, 2021

Paris St. Germain are expected to be among the clubs interested in luring De Gea away from Old Trafford. Keylor Navas, who was ironically set to join United in the failed De Gea transfer to Real Madrid, is currently PSG’s No. 1. Paris are +300 favorites to sign De Gea, while Madrid are long shots at +1000.

Tottenham have interest in Johnstone due to the uncertainty around the future of Hugo Lloris. Lloris would instantly become one of the most sought-after keepers on the market if Tottenham ultimately look to sell. Lloris’ interest in returning to Spurs may hinge on which manager the team decides to hire to replace the recently-sacked Jose Mourinho.

Taylor Smith

Taylor Smith has been a staff writer with GamblingSites.org since early 2017. Taylor is primarily a sports writer, though he will occasionally dabble in other things like politics and entertainment betting. His primary specialties are writing about the NBA, Major League Baseball, NFL and domestic and international soccer. Fringe sports like golf and horse racing aren’t exactly his cup of tea, bu …

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