ERIK TEN HAG’S goalkeeper crisis has worsened with one of his potential transfer targets on the verge of joining a Premier League rival.
David de Gea will become a free agent at midnight once his £375,000-a-week Manchester United deal expires.
The Spaniard, 32, had agreed reduced terms to continue his 12-year stay at Old Trafford before the club sensationally backtracked on the agreement.
The Red Devils are now looking for a replacement and a host of names have been linked.
We reported how they had already “sounded out” Andre Onana and were pushing to sign the Inter Milan goalie.
Brentford stopper David Raya and Porto’s Diogo Costa are other targets.
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Anderlecht’s Bart Verbruggen, 20, then emerged as Ten Hag’s preferred choice.
However, any potential hopes of signing the Dutch U21 international look to be over.
That is because Sussex Live reports that he is poised to join Brighton instead
They claim that a £17m transfer fee has been agreed between them and Anderlecht and that the move is now set to be completed.
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It is not only the No.1 position that United are struggling with after Ten Hag blocked Tom Heaton's move to Luton.
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The United boss is reluctant to allow the veteran keeper to leave despite his desire to depart.
A move to Luton would have seen the 37-year-old become the newly promoted side's first-choice between the sticks.
However, Ten Hag is unwilling to lose the former England international as his goalkeeping conundrum continues.
Heaton returned to United in 2021 but has since made just three competitive appearances, largely acting as a back-up to De Gea.
Meanwhile Dean Henderson is allegedly “perplexed” by reports that he could stay at United.
The 26-year-old spent last season on loan at Nottingham Forest after a fall-out with the Red Devils.
Now he is being heavily linked with a permanent move to the City Ground after recovering from the thigh surgery that ruled him out for the last few months of the campaign.
Some reports suggested that England international Henderson could stay until the goalkeeping issues have been solved.
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However, the former Sheffield United loanee was “perplexed” by those claims and that “he is convinced he will join Forest permanently”.
It adds that the complex situation at United could delay his exit but that Ten Hag could bag a potential £30m from the sale.
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