Erik ten Hag changes goalkeeper plan and identifies long-term David de Gea successor

Erik ten Hag has changed his transfer plans after just one game of the new season and wants to sign a goalkeeper capable of challenging David de Gea.

The Spain international went some way to rebuilding his reputation last season and reestablished himself as the club’s undisputed No.1 after he was briefly challenged and usurped by Dean Henderson.

United conceded a club record 53 Premier League goals last term but De Gea prevented that total from spiraling towards a figure that would have bordered on parody.

The 31-year-old started this season with his status enhanced after Dean Henderson left for Nottingham Forest on loan having appeared to have severed his ties with United following a scathing interview.

De Gea, however, appears ill-suited to the type of football Ten Hag wants to employ, one which relies upon his goalkeeper being comfortable with the ball at his feet.

Ten Hag tore a strip off De Gea during a pre-season friendly earlier this summer when he booted the ball up the pitch, rather than attempt a high-risk pass to full-back Tyrell Malacia.

De again looked uncomfortable during last Sunday’s defeat against Brighton at Old Trafford, although he was far from the only United player appear out of synch with their manager’s requirements.

According to The Athletic, United had budgeted for around £35,000-a-week in wages to sign a third choice goalkeeper this season with Ten Hag happy to rely on the experienced Tom Heaton to act as cover for De Gea.

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That plan has been shelved, however,