Revealed: Man Utd scout shock De Gea successor

Stuart Telford

• 22 Feb 2023 16:12 GMT
• 3 min read

Manchester United have been linked with Diogo Costa, Jordan Pickford and others as potential successors to David de Gea, but their scouts have been spotted in a surprise destination.

De Gea has been United's No.1, almost without interruption, since joining the club in a €25 million transfer from Atletico Madrid back in July 2011.

But his Old Trafford future seems uncertain. The Red Devils have offered to extend his contract which is set to expire in this June, but the Spaniard will have to drop his weekly waged down from £375,000 to £200,000 - something he is understood to be willing to do.

READ: De Gea willing to take pay cut to stay at Man Utd

De Gea has actually performed admirably well since Erik ten Hag became manager, and recently drew level with Peter Schmeichel as the Man Utd goalkeeper with the most clean sheets on 180.

But the suspicion remains that Ten Hag wants to work with a goalkeeper more adept with the ball his feet going forward, and rumours about reinforcements in the position refuse to go away.

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 4, 2022

Man Utd 'heavily scouting' Petrovic

"Sources: Manchester United are heavily scouting New England Revolution and Serbia international goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic." Bleacher Report's MLS and USMNT insider Tom Bogert posted to Twitter.

"There is no official contact between clubs yet. Petrovic, 23, has quickly become recognised among best goalkeepers in MLS. He has two caps with Serbia and was a finalist for MLS Goalkeeper of the Year last season."

READ: MLS' 10 most expensive transfers of all time

Petrovic joined New England from Serbian side Cukaricki for just €900,000 in last April, signing a contract valid until December 2025.

Now rated at €2.2m by FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm, he could still be picked up for a relative snip compared to the likes of Costa and Pickford.

It wouldn't be the first time United have acquired a talented keeper from MLS, with former No.1 Tim Howard joining from the New York/New Jersey MetroStars (now New York Red Bulls) for €3.2m in 2003.