It's possible that David de Gea's final game as Manchester United's starting goalkeeper happened today.
Although it is anticipated that the Spaniard would extend his time at United by signing a new contract, it appears that his days as the team's starting goalkeeper are finished.
The search for the Spaniard's replacement has evidently already begun since Erik ten Hag recently confirmed that he will no longer be a definite starter.
A few individuals have come to light as possible targets for the club. Bart Verbruggen of Anderlecht is a player in whom United are reportedly interested, according to ManUtdgistlovers via MEN Sport. Unquestionably talented, the 20-year-old has enjoyed a successful season in Belgium.
The goalkeeper made 37 appearances for Anderlecht during the 2021/22 season, giving up 45 goals while recording 13 clean sheets. He was also called up to the Netherlands squad and was voted the Belgian team's player of the season.
A price tag of roughly £15 million has been reported; that's a reasonably reasonable sum for a goalkeeper with promise who might someday replace David De Gea as United's starting goalkeeper.
The apparent risk, though, would be Verbruggen's inexperience and the fact that he has never played in England. When De Gea left Atletico Madrid, United occasionally learned this lesson to their detriment.
Diogo Costa of Porto is an additional candidate as a potential De Gea successor. He is older than Verbruggen, aged 23, and has played more games overall. He is also a full-fledged Portugal international.
United may have been given the greatest option for them this summer somewhere in the middle of these two choices. David Raya of Brentford please step forward.
Raya is the eldest and most seasoned of the three contestants at the age of 27. Critically, he has a wealth of English experience, having developed at Blackburn Rovers before joining the Bees in 2019.
He has good footwork, a quality that Ten Hag is looking for, and has already gotten used to playing in the Premier League because he has experience in the division. Importantly, he is already adept at handling crosses, which De Gea found challenging in his early years at United.
The suggested price may also be appealing to United. Raya's contract with Brentford has one year left, and Bees manager Thomas Frank has previously acknowledged that Raya is worth £40 million.
Compared to the other two shot-stoppers discussed above, Raya is the most reliable pair of hands to use and presents less of a risk. And with 14 points separating them from Manchester City in the just-completed season, United can't afford to make any mistakes in the transfer market this summer.