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David de Gea has been told he's not as good as 'lower league' goalkeepers and his Manchester United replacement has already been identified.
Despite the fact that no other goalkeeper in the Premier League has as many clean sheets as him so far this season, De Gea's future at United is under serious threat.
His performance in the Europa League elimination at the hands of Sevilla on Thursday night was enough to leave many wondering if he was still good enough at the highest level.
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The mistake for the third goal for the Spanish side was particularly bad, and really showed the 32-year-old's lack of ability with the ball at his feet.
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Certainly his saves have usually been enough to earn him the title as the world's top earning keeper, but Thursday wasn't the first time his ability with his feet has been questioned.
It's what cost him his place in the Spain team and, eventually, his place in the squad to Qatar for the World Cup last year, and had people wondering if he was good enough for Erik ten Hag's team.
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The United boss did recently claim the former Atletico Madrid number one was the 'complete' goalkeeper, but you'd have to think that he didn't hold that opinion on Thursday.
Now pundit Tony Cascarino has gone in with the Spaniard, and claimed that the club already have his replacement, in the shape of Dean Henderson.
"This will be the first really big summer for Ten Hag, because the business they do will have a major impact on what type of team he has," the former Chelsea striker told talkSPORT.
"I think there will be a lot of business done by the club, a lot of people leaving and some of them will maybe be a bit unexpected.
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"I’m not even sure De Gea survives, because Ten Hag is going to want a footballing goalkeeper.
"Ten Hag comes from the Ajax academy of football, and his players must be technically very good to play in a certain way. Look at all the leading clubs in the country, look at Pep Guardiola’s decision at Man City to get rid of Joe Hart because he wanted Ederson who could play much more with his feet. Arsenal made the same decision with Aaron Ramsdale, Liverpool with Alisson.
"Goalkeepers have been changed at a lot of the clubs that are doing really well. I’ve got stick for saying this in the past, but if Tottenham want to play in a different way they’ve got to have a much better footballing goalkeeper than Hugo Lloris.
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“I think that’s where Manchester United are with David de Gea. You’ve got to be able to play with your feet. I watch lower league football and I’ve seen goalkeepers who are way superior to De Gea with their feet. I’m telling you, I’ve seen a good few of them and they are better.
“I watched Dean Henderson a lot at Sheffield United and he was fabulous. He then came back to Man United, it didn’t go particularly well for him and then he got an injury.
“I still think there’s time for Henderson to make the most of an opportunity that can be there, but again that’s up to Ten Hag and what he thinks.
"Certainly as a goalkeeper I’d say he is very, very capable."
Henderson impressed at times in the first part of the season, during his loan spell to Nottingham Forest, before he got injured and replaced by Keylor Navas.
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The 26-year-old had a long run in the first team at Old Trafford when De Gea was injured and unavailable through personal reasons at the end of the 2020/21 season.
He played relatively well until a 4-2 loss at home to Liverpool and was then unlucky at the beginning of the following season, when Covid stopped him from carrying on as first choice.
If United were to buy a new goalkeeper in the summer they'd likely need to sell players, and their history in that situation doesn't make for good reading for fans.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Football, Premier League, Manchester United, Europa League, David De Gea, Dean Henderson, Manchester United Transfer News & Rumours
