Man Utd 'ready trigger Dominik Livakovic's £8.8m release clause'

Manchester United are ready to complete a deal for Croatian international Dominik Livakovic.

United have undoubtedly made improvements under Erik ten Hag this term. The club are entrenched in a Champions League spot, while they claimed the Carabao Cup in February - their first silverware of any kind in six years.

Moreover, the Old Trafford club have qualified for the FA Cup final, where they will come up against bitter rivals Manchester City, who are on course for a treble.

Nevertheless, United’s recruitment team will have one eye on the summer, as the club look to kick on from a generally positive first season under Ten Hag.

United are likely to prioritise a striker in the coming transfer window, with Harry Kane and Victor Osimhen thought to be their main targets.

Furthermore, while the club are in conversations to extend long-serving shot-stopper David De Gea’s deal, Ten Hag is also thought to be keen to bring in a new goalkeeper.

Livakovic to United?

Croatian outlet Jutarnji claimed United were interested in signing Livakovic and ready to pay the goalkeeper’s €10million (£8.8million) release clause.

The publication claimed the transfer is “quite possible” though the 28-year-old has also attracted interest from the likes of Villarreal, Galatasaray and Real Sociedad.

An Old Trafford switch could be the most likely move, however, given Livakovic shares the same agent as Luke Shaw.

The Croatia number one, who is under contract with Dinamo Zagreb until 2024, has made 278 appearances for the HNL giants, having kept 128 clean sheets in that time.

Even if De Gea extends his 12-year stay at United, Ten Hag will require new goalkeeper options.

Dean Henderson, who has spent the season at Nottingham Forest, looks set for a permanent Old Trafford exit, whereas Jack Butland is only on loan and Tom Heaton is out of contract at the end of the season.