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Manchester United 'scouting Diogo Costa, Unai Simon'

Manchester United 'scouting Diogo Costa, Unai Simon'
© Reuters
Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa and Athletic Bilbao stopper Unai Simon are being scouted by Manchester United this season, according to a report.

Manchester United are reportedly scouting Porto's Diogo Costa and Athletic Bilbao's Unai Simon, with the club considering signing a new number one goalkeeper for next season.

David de Gea remains the club's first choice between the sticks, but the 31-year-old's contract is due to expire at the end of the season, and Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag has refused to guarantee that the stopper will be signing an extension with the 20-time English champions.

According to The Athletic, Ten Hag wants to sign a ball-playing goalkeeper, which has led to the club taking a look at a number of stoppers around European football.

The report claims that Porto's Costa and Athletic's Simon have both been identified by the club's leading goalkeeping scout Tony Coton as potential additions.

There could be a huge change in the goalkeeping department next summer, with Tom Heaton expected to leave on a free transfer, while Martin Dubravka is set to return to parent club Newcastle United.

Portugal's Diogo Costa pictured on September 27, 2022© Reuters

Dean Henderson is due to return to Old Trafford next year following the completion of a loan spell at Nottingham Forest, but he could then leave the club on a permanent basis.

Costa, 23, has been in impressive form for Porto during the 2022-23 campaign, keeping eight clean sheets in 15 appearances in all competitions.

The Portugal international has already produced three shutouts in the Champions League this term, and there have been suggestions that he is the club's number one target between the sticks.

Porto are in a strong position when it comes to the stopper's future, though, as he has a contract with the Portuguese giants until the end of the 2025-26 campaign.

Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon pictured in March 2021© Reuters

Simon, meanwhile, has kept four clean sheets in 11 appearances for Athletic at the start of the season.

The 25-year-old has a contract with his Basque club until June 2025, meanwhile, and the Lions are expected to fight to keep hold of the 27-time Spain international.

Simon is likely to be Spain's number one goalkeeper at the upcoming World Cup, and he has made 139 first-team appearances for Athletic, with 123 of those outings coming in La Liga.

Unlike Costa, Simon has no European experience at first-team level, but Coton is believed to have identified him as a possible acquisition due to his ball-playing qualities.

A recent report claimed that De Gea would have to be prepared to accept a huge wage cut if he wanted to remain with the 20-time English champions beyond the end of the campaign.

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Matt Law

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David de Gea in action for Manchester United on August 7, 2022
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