David Tully Aug 17th 2025
Man United are considering a shock approach for former no.1 David Gea before the transfer window closes, according to reports.
The Sun reporter Alan Nixon claims that a “remarkable return” is on the cards after the Red Devils made some “hush hush checks” to explore how the deal could be done.
It is believed that De Gea has a contract clause that means he can leave his current team Fiorentina for a relatively small transfer fee.
That has attracted the attention of United, who have limited funds to invest in a new keeper, having had a loan bid knocked back for Aston Villa’s Emi Martinez earlier this summer.
Would De Gea be open to a return?
After facing the Red Devils in a friendly earlier this month, the 34-year-old told supporters that he hoped their “paths may cross again”.
De Gea left United on a free transfer in the summer of 2023, and he spent a whole year on the sidelines before being picked up by Fiorentina in August 2024.
He impressed during his first season with the Viola, and he also caught the eye during the friendly fixture at Old Trafford.
Are Man United looking to replace Onana?
There have been plenty of mixed messages about the future of the club’s current first-choice goalkeeper. Head coach Ruben Amorim has not exactly given Onana his full backing during pre-season, stating that he is “not going to say if one guy is number one.”
However, if a buyer can’t be found for Onana, there is a good chance that he will start the season in goal. The Cameroon international has been sidelined with a hamstring injury, but he was expected to face Arsenal in the opening Premier League fixture on Sunday evening.
Read more about the Manchester United First Team Squad for 2025/26 here
David Tully
David has worked as a football reporter for the last fifteen years. Having started as an intern at Snack Media, he then went on to become a freelancer, working on various different sites. At the start of 2023, he took up his current role as content writer for National World’s Football News Network.
