Liverpool and Manchester United are ready to fight it out for Dutch goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen as both look to upgrade their options between the posts ahead of the new season, according to reports.
Erik ten Hag’s side are in massive need of a new goalkeeper, with David de Gea’s kicking ability woefully below what is required for the former Ajax boss. Meanwhile, Liverpool could well lose Caoimhin Kelleher this summer in search of first team football, and would need a new option to compete with the seemingly timeless Alisson.
Enter, Verbruggen. The Anderlecht stopper has been attracting rave reviews this season, with five clean sheets in 12 pro league appearances, while his kicking has been particularly eye-catching.
He has earned rave reviews from former Premier League stars too. Ex-Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen, now a teammate of his in Belgium, told the media that:
For me, Verbruggen has the potential to become one of the best goalkeepers in Europe. If you see where he is now at 20. I have rarely seen such a personality at that age. Modest, but very driven and ambitious. If I’m a top European club and I have the money to spend, I wouldn’t hesitate.”
And, though Anderlecht would like to keep the goalkeeper with them for another season, it is thought that a bid of in excess of 10m euros could be enough to persuade them to let him go this summer.
With plenty of his career still ahead of him, he could be an excellent pickup for plenty of Premier League sides, while he would instantly transform the Red Devils’ ability to play out from defence, the next logical step in Erik ten Hag’s evolution.
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