Victor Valdes is set to sign an 18-month contract with Manchester United, where he will fight David De Gea for a regular first team spot.
The hugely successful 32-year-old has been without a club since leaving Barcelona at the end of his contract in the summer, whilst a serious knee injury has kept him sidelined since March. Rumours of a move to Old Trafford first began in October of last year when he was training with the Reds, who are coached by his former Camp Nou mentor Louis van Gaal.
Widespread reports in Spain now claim Valdes has agreed an 18-month deal with the Premier League giants, who will initially use him as back up for the brilliant De Gea. However, it has also been suggested by the influential United fanzine Red Issue that the former Barca man has been led to believe that he will actually be a direct replacement for the current Reds number one.
If this is the case, then the speculation over the future of De Gea is sure to intensify. The former Atletico Madrid man has already been heavily linked with a return to the Spanish capital, albeit with Real, where Iker Casillas is considered to be past his best whilst Keylor Navas has yet to convince. It has been claimed that United use Los Blancos’ interest in the 24-year-old as bait for Gareth Bale.
The signing of Valdes, who won six league titles and three UEFA Champions League’s in Catalonia, will also be a source of frustration on Merseyside. Liverpool had been strongly linked with the player earlier this season due to the problematic form of Simon Mignolet, but it appears as though Brendan Rodgers passed up the chance to replace the Belgian with the Spaniard.
Will Valdes’ arrival ultimately lead to De Gea’s Old Trafford departure? Let us know what you think by joining the discussion below.
