Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez has emerged as an alternative option for Manchester United as Erik ten Hag looks to replace David de Gea in the summer transfer market.
That is according to the Daily Mail, who add that the highly-rated Spaniard has fallen out of favour under Roberto de Zerbi.
The Brighton manager has therefore made Jason Steele his number one choice, and they’re likely to add Dutch youngster Bart Verbruggen to their goalkeeper department from Anderlecht.
Brighton would be looking for around £30 million for Sanchez, but other reports suggest that Ten Hag has https://strettynews.com/2023/07/04/al-nassr-compete-with-manchester-united-over-andre-onana-transfer/. I guess Rio Ferdinand was right when he says the Italian club’s valuation could prove to be a stumbling block in that deal.
However, I don’t think Sanchez is a keeper United fans would put their nose up at. He has been one of the most consistent performers in the Premier League for some time and it is a surprise that he didn’t start for Spain at the World Cup.
Not only is Sanchez a great passer of the ball — something Ten Hag demands from his keeper — he kept a clean sheet against the Reds for 120 minutes in the FA Cup semi-final last season.
That said, we weren’t doing much in front of goal without a centre-forward for most of the previous campaign.
Sanchez has been part of Brighton’s academy since he was 15 so he is regarded as homegrown. On top of that, he has an English father.
The report also names other keeper targets like Feyenoord’s Justin Bijlow and Kevin Trapp at Eintracht Frankfurt.
Stretty News verdict
Having Sanchez as a fall back option gives United some leg room in their negotiations with Inter Milan over Onana.
The board shouldn’t forget that one of Ten Hag’s top demands this summer was a forward. We need a centre-forward with a track record of scoring goals at the highest level and there isn’t many of them out there.
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Why should Man U go for a goalkeeper relegated down the pecking order by Brighton?
We have gone too low.
Glazers out!