Manchester United’s £24m target may have doubts over Old Trafford move

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New England Revolution’s £24 million-rated goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic may have doubts over a move to Premier League giants Manchester United. 

That is according to The Standard. 

The Serbian shot-stopper, they say, would only leave the MLS outfit in order to join a club where first-team football would be all-but guaranteed. And, as the Manchester Evening News point out, Djordje Petrovic is viewed at Old Trafford not as a replacement for David de Gea between the sticks, but one capable of offering depth and competition in the goalkeeping department. 

United, after all, may need to bring in not one but two glovesmen this summer; Dean Henderson potentially set to re-join Nottingham Forest and De Gea’s contract expiring at the end of this week. 

Manchester United need goalkeeper signings

Petrovic, then, is perhaps more likely to be Henderson’s replacement rather than De Gea’s. But unlike Matt Turner, the former New England shot-stopper who moved to Arsenal shortly before Petrovic’s arrival from FK Cukaricki, the Serb is not interested in joining a club – even one of England’s finest – who could not guarantee him a place in their starting XI. 

There are, the Standard add, a number of other Europe-based clubs showing an interest.

Petrovic’s £24 million asking price was likely to be a little too rich for United’s blood anyway. Especially given the limited nature of Ten Hag’s budget. £24 million is a lot to spend on a second-choice goalkeeper.

At least £40 million will be spent on bringing Andre Onana to Old Trafford from Inter Milan. Add that to the Mason Mount deal, and United could break the £100 million mark sooner rather than later. 

“I just loved the way (Petrovic’s) plyometric jump was. That was the biggest thing for me,” Kevin Hitchcock, the former Chelsea goalkeeper who now works as a coach for New England Revolution, tells GOAL. 

“That was something I saw with Matt Turner, and I knew I could improve it too. I said straight away; ‘This is the one I want. Petrovic is the one.

“Athletically, he reminds me of Matt, who used to remind me of Brad Friedel. Brad Friedel was a very athletic goalkeeper.

“But Djordje is a very different build to both. He has a longer reach, so he really is his own man. He does his own things.”