Man Utd told ‘not great’ issue would ruin Jan Oblak transfer chances, as Tottenham backed for signing
Jan Oblak would not want to compete for Manchester United minutes with David de Gea and would instead fancy signing for Tottenham, one pundit says.
Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Oblak is a man in demand for upcoming transfer windows, with Premier League clubs eyeing a raid. Man Utd have concerns over De Gea’s future, with one year left and a one-year option left on his contract.
Meanwhile, Spurs’ need for a new long-term goalkeeper signing is more immediate. Hugo Lloris is 35 and while his contract also expires in 2024, time is not on his side.
Both Man Utd and Spurs reportedly want 29-year-old Slovenian Oblak in their ranks to ease their goalkeeping concerns.
According to Alan Hutton, the 52-cap international would be a solid signing for either Premier League club.
Asked by Football Insider if Oblak would choose Tottenham over Man Utd, the pundit said: “I think so.
“I think now, the way Tottenham are and the way they’re playing under the new manager, they’re doing really well.
“They’ve got Champions League football which is always a bonus. They’ll need a long-term successor to Hugo Lloris, he’s 35 now.
“Oblak could be there for the next five, six, seven, eight years and that’s probably what they’re looking for. He’s got a wealth of experience playing at a high level so you know what you’re getting when he comes through the door. He’ll be a leader no doubt.”
Oblak would choose Tottenham, not Man Utd
Hutton added that the presence of De Gea at Old Trafford would likely see Oblak favour a move to north London instead.
“It’ll be a difficult one to try and pick. But I think if you’ve got the opportunity to go to Tottenham and be number one, he’d want to take that,” the pundit said.
“If you go to Manchester United and De Gea’s still there then you’re number two for the next couple of seasons, it’s not great.
“So that’s why he’d possibly lean towards Tottenham.”
Oblak has played 361 games for Atletico since signing from Benfica in 2014, keeping 178 clean sheets along the way.
He signed a massive new six-year contract in July that runs until the summer of 2028. But, after eight years in the Spanish capital, he could reportedly seek a new challenge.
Prem battle for top goalkeeper
It looks as if Man Utd Tottenham could well do battle for Oblak, who still has a lot to give in his career.
He is only 29 and so has the chance to star at a new club for several years before he decides to retire.
And reports have suggested that he will be available for a decent fee, certainly much less than his reported £107million release clause.
Tottenham’s need for a new stopper is clearly more apparent because, behind Lloris, they do not have a long-term deputy ready to step in.
Man Utd may have that with Dean Henderson, although he left for his Nottingham Forest loan on bad terms and it remains unclear if he will be willing to have another crack at life at Old Trafford.
As a result, Tottenham may push more for Oblak simply because they need him more. United may well have more precautions about going all-out for the Slovenian as they assess the futures of De Gea and Henderson.
