Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is reportedly at wits end with starting shot-stopper David de Gea, with a host of options being assessed ahead of the January transfer window.
What’s the word?
According to reports from Spain, the Red Devils are eyeing Morocco’s World Cup hero Yassine Bounou, commonly known as Bono, as a possible replacement for their beleaguered goalkeeper.
The likes of Yann Sommer and Jan Oblak have also been touted for a move to Manchester, but Bono might emerge as the frontrunner after a string of impressive performances at the World Cup in Qatar.
The Red Devils would be facing heated competition for the 31-year-old’s signature, however, with Aston Villa boss Unai Emery also looking to forge a deal for the ace after expressing a long-time interest in him, as per Football Insider.
It’s thought that Sevilla would only sell their no.1 for a fee in the region of £26m.
Ditch De Gea
De Gea has been a loyal servant for the Red Devils for over a decade, winning the Premier League, Europa League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup during his time between the sticks at the Theatre of Dreams.
And winning the club’s Player of the Season award on four occasions – including last year – the Spaniard has basked in his fair share of success, almost moving to Real Madrid in a lucrative deal before a collapse at the eleventh hour.
However, recent years have left the 45-cap international scraping for form, earning criticism on numerous occasions for his mistakes and “woeful” displays.
Which is why a transfer away from the club might be the best avenue for all parties, with De Gea offered a clean slate and United freeing the lofty reported wage of £375k-per-week.
Keeping three clean sheets in four World Cup matches, against the likes of Belgium, Croatia, and Spain, Morocco have exceeded expectations and risen from the ground in Qatar to perch alongside some of the most esteemed nations on the globe, on the very biggest stage.
And now with a tantalising quarter-final showdown against Portugal awaiting, Bono could see his stock rise even further with a good performance against the European giants.
As per Sofascore, Bono has recorded a rating of 7.2 at the World Cup, providing assurance and precise distribution from the back, allowing his teammates to push forward and search for openings.
With an average save percentage of 67% and a formidable performance in the last-16, where the 31-year-old saved three penalties as the nation sank Spain in a shootout after a valiant 0-0 draw, Bono is emerging as a figure of the utmost standing.
And with FBref reporting that the “monster” – in the words of broadcaster Ives Galarcep – ranks within the top 16% for goal kicks and 23% for touches when compared to goalkeepers across Europe’s big five leagues, his knack for getting on the ball and distributing forward is something that will leave him in good stead with Ten Hag and his ball-playing philosophy.
Whether United make a move will remain to be seen, but with his level of performance recently and his reported wage of just £15k-per-week, Bono could be a prudent and viable option to replace De Gea.