Ex-United star David de Gea at centre of surprise swap deal after Fiorentina’s relegation escape – report

Former Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea is in line for a surprise swap deal ahead of the summer window, it has now been reported. United spell De Gea departed United in the summer of 2023 after a successful 12-year spell. He made 545 appearances for the club, keeping 190 clean sheets in that period. Both are club records for a goalkeeper. The Spaniard helped the Red Devils win the Premier League, FA Cup, UEFA Europa League and two Carabao Cups. In terms of personal accolades, De Gea collected two Premier League Golden Glove awards, four Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year awards and four Players’ Player of the Year awards. After parting ways with United, De Gea remained without a club for a full year before finally resuming his career at Fiorentina. His brilliant first season with La Viola ultimately secured him an extended stay at the club. But 2025/26 was a challenging one for Fiorentina as they mostly battled to beat the drop. De Gea made 46 appearances in all competitions, conceding 59 goals and registering 13 clean sheets. Fiorentina finished in 15th place in the table, eight points above the relegation zone. A report covered by The Peoples Person indicated that Juventus are keen on a swoop for De Gea and now, it has been claimed that Lazio are also interested in him. De Gea transfer update According to Il Tirreno, De Gea may feature in a potential swap arrangement, with Lazio’s Christos Mandas moving to Fiorentina in return. Mandas moved to Bournemouth in January but did not make an appearance for the Cherries as Andoni Iraola kept faith in Djordje Petkovic. Bournemouth are unlikely to keep him beyond his loan, so a return to Lazio seems likely. But Lazio want to offload him and proceed with Edoardo Motta, who has been outstanding since replacing the injured Ivan Provedel in March. Fiorentina are admirers of Mandas, who could offer De Gea in exchange. Part of Fiorentina’s motivation to move on from De Gea is the high wages he commands. Apart from Lazio and Juventus, another potential transfer destination for De Gea is Inter Milan. Featured image Molly Darlington via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Derick Kinoti Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the Premier League extensively for years. His work blends sharp analysis, tactical insight, and engaging storytelling that resonates with fans around the world. Derick has gained valuable experience in football journalism, developing strong expertise in SEO writing, digital content creation, and social media engagement. A tech enthusiast with a Computer Science degree from the University of Nairobi, he ultimately swapped code for football commentary, bringing an analytical, detail-oriented approach to his writing. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!