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Man Utd can seal first summer transfer from Bayern Munich after 'gentleman's agreement'
Erik ten Hag could land his first signing of the summer for Manchester United after an agreement was previously made.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag reviews the West Ham game
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag could be able to sign his David De Gea alternative in the form of Yann Sommer as the Dutchman’s first summer signing, after a gentleman’s agreement with Bayern Munich. De Gea’s future at Old Trafford has been in question as he has yet to sign a new contract and recent errors have called for his place in the team to be in doubt.
Backups Jack Butland and Tom Heaton have failed to challenge De Gea this season, but a new competitor is expected to arrive at Old Trafford this coming summer that could push the Spaniard. Dean Henderson will return from his Nottingham Forest loan, while there has been plenty of speculation over possible additions.
Sommer has been mentioned alongside the likes of David Raya and Diogo Costa, while United are reportedly still interested in the Swiss stopper after previous links in January. Sommer has spent the second half of the season at Bayern Munich, deputising for Manuel Neuer after the German broke his leg in a skiing accident in December.
However, according to Bild, Sommer has a gentleman’s agreement with Bayern that he is free to leave the club this summer if Neuer returns as number one. Sommer did sign a contract until 2025 as part of a £7million transfer from Borussia Monchengladbach, and Bayern would likely want to get their money back if United were to return for Sommer this summer.
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The 34-year-old would likely come at a bargain price compared to some of the other potential goalkeeper targets at United. Brentford have reportedly slapped a £35m price tag on Raya despite the Spain international having just one more year left on his contract after another successful season in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, Costa at Porto signed a new contract last year which upped his release clause from £51m to £65m, though he and Raya could be United’s first-choice goalkeeper for years to come whereas Sommer would be approaching the twilight of his career if he comes in to challenge De Gea.
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Ten Hag has thrown his weight behind De Gea, however, despite his recent dip in form which was amplified by his mistake against West Ham.
“He has the most clean sheets in the league so we would not be here in this position without him,” Ten Hag said after De Gea’s blunder at the London Stadium.
“He fully has my belief. No concerns with him. It happens but as a team you have to deal with it, show character, be resilient and bounce back. We want him to stay and extend his contract.”