Gary Neville tips Brentford goalkeeper David Raya to step up and replace David de Gea if he leaves Man United, but warns No 1 role at Old Trafford is ‘the single most difficult position in football’
- Gary Neville has identified a possible replacement for David de Gea
- The ex-United full-back believes Brentford’s David Raya would be a good fit
- De Gea’s current contract expires at the end of the season but talks are ongoing
Gary Neville believes Brentford goalkeeper David Raya could be the perfect replacement for David de Gea when he leaves Manchester United.
Neville says Raya has the attributes needed to thrive at Old Trafford and ‘would interest’ Erik ten Hag in the summer.
De Gea became the club’s all-time record clean sheet holder after managing to keep Newcastle’s attackers at bay in United’s Carabao Cup final win on Sunday.
But, regardless of ongoing talks to extend his deal that currently expires in the summer, Neville has revealed that the club could start looking at replacements now.
‘I think Raya would interest United in the summer,’ Neville told The Overlap.
Brentford goalkeeper David Raya (left) would ‘interest’ Manchester United according to Gary Neville
Current United goalkeeper David de Gea (left) is in talks over a new deal while Raya (right) is likely to leave Brentford in the summer
‘I went to watch Brentford a couple of weeks ago… I think he’s going to become available, he’s only got a year left. I think he could step up.
Raya has so far starred for Brentford this season, managing eight Premier League clean sheets – the fourth best in the division and has recently turned down two contract offers from the Bees amid interest elsewhere.
His efforts between the sticks have helped them to 9th in the English top-flight, having played every league game for the club this season.
The 27-year-old joined Brentford from Blackburn in 2019 and would represent an experienced player that United hope would be available for a cut-price given his age.
Neville believes it could be one Spaniard for another and additionally went on to highlight the pressures facing goalkeepers at a club with United’s stature.
‘It is a problem that. I’ve said it’s the single most difficult position in English football being the Manchester United goalkeeper. I genuinely believe that.
De Gea (yellow) has been United’s number one for the past 12 years after emerging as one fo the world’s best goalkeepers
Raya has starred for Brentford this season and has played every league game in the club’s rise to 9th in the Premier League standings
Neville believes that Raya could ‘step up’ if given a move to Man United in the summer
‘I think Liverpool’s number one is the second. And that’s not to be disrespectful to all other clubs, I think the Manchester United goalkeeper comes under more scrutiny if they make a mistake than any other position in English football on the pitch.
‘It’s tough! And I’ve seen lads in that goal [struggle]. That’s the problem they’ve got. It’s whether [a new goalkeeper] can handle that stadium,’ he added.
De Gea will likely extend his contract at United given his and other team-mates up turn in form since Ten Hag took over at the club in the summer.
However, it is unlikely that this will be a long-term deal given his age, with Raya previously linked with the Red Devils and likely to leave Brentford at the end of the season.
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