Man United ‘keeping tabs’ on ‘keeper despite summer signing of Dubravka

Luke Shaw marked his return to the England starting 11 on Monday with a goal as Gareth Southgate’s side drew 3-3 with rivals Germany.

The Three Lions had found themselves 2-0 down with less than 20 minutes remaining before Shaw’s strike triggered a chaotic final period which saw England go 3-2 up before being pegged back to 3-3.

It finished level, meaning Southgate’s side end their Nations League campaign without a single win and are relegated to League B.

Shaw hadn’t been included in the England squad for their fixtures over the summer, and it surprised many that he was given a call up this time around considering his situation at club level.

The left-back was dropped following United’s disastrous start to the season and hasn’t since regained his starting spot.

Shaw hasn’t played a single minute for The Red Devils since being dragged off at half-time during their 4-0 loss to Brentford, but since then United’s form has improved dramatically.

Erik ten Hag’s side have won their last four league games, keeping clean sheets against both Southampton and Leicester City.

De Gea’s contract is set to expire next summer

Goalkeeper David de Gea has been crucial to their upturn in form, but it appears that United are wary of losing the Spaniard.

As reported by Football Insider, the Manchester club are ‘keeping tabs’ on Aston Villa ‘keeper Emiliano Martinez.

It is suggested that they are doing so amid ongoing uncertainty over the future of De Gea, who is set to be out of contract next summer.

The Spanish international has less than a year remaining on his current deal, although the club do have the option to extend his contract by a further 12 months.

The former Atletico Madrid man is just six appearances away from reaching the milestone of 500 games for United, having joined the club back in 2011.

Martinez, 30, joined Villa from Arsenal in 2020 and impressed during his first season with the club, keeping 15 clean sheets in 38 league matches.

It is claimed that United’s recruitment staff rate him very highly, regarding him as one of the best in the Premier League in his position.

One issue for Ten Hag could be the fact that Martinez penned a new deal with Villa at the start of this year, which runs until 2027.

With that in mind, his current employers now value him at around £45 million, more than double the £20 million that they paid to sign him from The Gunners two years ago.

United’s interest in him comes despite the signing of Martin Dubravka on loan from Newcastle United over the summer.

The Slovakia international moved to Old Trafford on an initial loan deal following the departure of Dean Henderson to Nottingham Forest, but he is yet to feature for his new side, while Henderson has impressed at The City Ground.

United’s other goalkeeper, Tom Heaton, is yet to start a game for the club since joining from Villa last summer.