Man Utd's goalkeeping search: Six to replace De Gea and Valdes

ESPN FC's Ross Dyer and Gab Marcotti assess Manchester United's goalkeeping situation and address the rumoured transfer of David De Gea to Real Madrid.

In jettisoning Victor Valdes with characteristic ruthlessness, Louis van Gaal may have made Manchester United's summer more complicated than planned.
After the successes of Bastian Schweinsteiger, Memphis Depay, Morgan Schneiderlin and Matteo Darmian, there is now the distinct possibility that a search for two goalkeepers may need to be mounted if David De Gea and Real Madrid get their wish, and United's current No. 1 makes his return to Spain.

At present, De Gea staying another year to see out his contract and leaving for free next summer looks a possibility but what is definitely required is a replacement for the highly experienced reserve keeper Valdes.
Whether United end up looking for two keepers or one, Van Gaal has a number of options.
Here, ESPN FC runs down the candidates and whether they could be first choice at Old Trafford or a No.2.

Jasper Cillessen, Ajax - First choice

Jasper Cillessen is one for the future and the present.

Should the De Gea deal be finalised, Van Gaal will be looking for a first-choice keeper and may yet turn to the 26-year-old Cillessen, who kept goal for him at the 2014 World Cup. Ajax do not want to sell Cillessen yet, with the plan being to move him on next summer when manager Frank De Boer and others are also expected to seek pastures new. However, they are usually a club willing to do a deal at the right price and a £25 million bid could see him depart.

Hugo Lloris, Tottenham - First choice

Spurs' stopper has Premier League experience.

Lloris' broken wrist, which will keep him out of the start of the Premier League season, might just have hardened United's resolve to keep De Gea on for another year. Had they gone down that road, then a long negotiation process was always likely with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, the arch-dealmaker. France's captain, proven at Premier League level and in the Champions League, may still be a candidate but has become a more distant prospect since that training injury. The 28-year-old signed a new five-year deal last season, but could be available for around £20m according to reports.

Jan Oblak, Atletico Madrid - First choice/No. 2

Atletico have had some fine keepers, and Oblak is the latest.

The Slovenian could become either an executive-class reserve or push straight ahead to become first choice. Atleti has become a cradle of goalkeeping talent and Oblak is seen as the long-term successor to Thibaut Courtois, and De Gea himself. He is just 22, and starred in Benfica's run to the 2014 Europa League final. Last season saw injuries keep him behind Miguel Angel Moya, but excellence against Real Madrid in the Champions League knockouts suggested his burgeoning talent. He is worth in excess of £30m.

Salvatore Sirigu, PSG - First choice/No. 2

PSG bought a new keeper this summer so could move Sirigu on.

Despite being the goalkeeper in Paris Saint-Germain's unprecedented quadruple campaign last season, the Italian now looks surplus to requirements at the Parc Des Princes. PSG have spent €9m on German stopper Kevin Trapp and have said Sirigu can go if he is worried about keeping his place as one of Italy's three keepers for Euro 2016. It is doubtful whether United would see him as first choice either but the acceleration of the De Gea situation may force their hand and he could be a cheaper option at less than £10m, but it doesn't appear he is leaving according to his agent.

Sergio Romero, Unattached - No. 2

The Argentina international starred at the World Cup.

Van Gaal likes to work with those who have already felt the benefit of his "philosophy," though both Valdes and Robin van Persie now know that does not buy clemency. Romero was his goalkeeper at AZ Alkmaar and he denied Van Gaal in the World Cup semifinal when playing for Argentina. Now available on a free transfer having been released by Sampdoria after a loan at Monaco, Romero is being suggested for the role set to be vacated by Valdes.

David Ospina, Arsenal - No. 2

The arrival of Petr Cech leaves Ospina out in the cold.

Should United's reported offer to Romero not come to fruition, attention could be turned to a goalkeeper who is now the odd man out at Arsenal, despite being first choice for much of last season. Petr Cech's arrival has relegated Ospina, and the suggestion is that Wojciech Szczesny is seen as the understudy who can learn at the feet of the Premier League great. The Colombian international is free to look for a new club, with Real Madrid and Everton recently linked with a £5m bid for him, although Arsenal may not want to sell to a direct rival.

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