United and City linked with keepers
UNITED’S GOALKEEPING LEGEND URGES JOSE TO SNAP UP YOUNG STOPPER IF DE GEA EXITS OLD TRAFFORD
UNITED have been urged to buy goalkeeper Jordan Pickford from Sunderland if David de Gea ends up at Real Madrid this summer.
Reds boss Jose Mourinho is still confident that De Gea will remain at Old Trafford and United will win the battle with the Spaniards for a second time.
Madrid-born De Gea almost joined Real two summers ago in 2015 when only late paperwork ended his switch to the Bernabeu on transfer deadline day mess up.
United immediately secured De Gea on a new four-year Old Trafford deal to 2019 with an option for another season.
But Real are back in the picture with Zinedine Zidane wanting the 26-year-old, signed from Atletico Madrid in 2011 as replacement for Edwin van der Sar, for the Galactico collection.
Mourinho’s decision to play Sergio Romero in the Europa League final against Ajax next Wednesday in Stockholm has added to the intrigue.
But if De Gea goes, then United’s first ever European trophy winning number one Alex Stepney has no doubts who should be brought in.
“I would go for Jordan Pickford without a shadow of a doubt,” the Reds 1968 Wembley European Cup winner told MEN Sport.
“Sunderland have been relegated but he has been the star up there for them. They could have been confirmed going down long before had it not been for him. He’s been excellent all season.
“I like everything about him as a keeper. Strong, brave, comes for crosses, good with his feet and a great shot-stopper. He’s everything you want and at 23 a good age for him to go up to a next level of club and take his game on.
“If David de Gea does go this time then I wouldn’t hesitate to get Pickford. Sergio Romero has been great and I think he is a very good international goalkeeper and he has to stay.
“Sergio might initially be the number one but I would say to Jordan, come and join us, bed yourself down in a big club, learn more, get used to the club and try to push self forward as quickly as possible to become the first choice.