Stan Collymore has tipped Unai Emery’s Aston Villa to secure the transfer of David Gea dethis summer following his brutal exit from Manchester United.
The 32-year-old’s contract was coming to an end, and for a number of weeks, it was unclear whether he was going to be handed a new deal or head for the exit door – in the end, the player himself had to take to social media to inform Manchester United fans that he wasn’t staying on (Mirror).
Former Aston Villa striker Collymore described David de Gea’s situation as ‘sad’, and if he decides to stay in the Premier League, then he thinks Unai Emery should sign his fellow countryman that he ‘knows well’, as he told CaughtOffside.
World Cup-winning star Emiliano Martinez is Villa’s number one and a key member of the side, but Collymore fears about his future.
There have been suggestions that Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea want to sign Martinez, but given both clubs’ current stance, you would back Villa to stay pretty firm this summer.
But, for Collymore, when discussing de Gea’s situation, he praised the Spanish keeper and how a possible move to Villa Park could be possible.
“The end of David De Gea’s time at Manchester United was really sad to see. I am not sure United handled the situation as well as they could have done,” said Collymore.
“De Gea will go down as one of the club’s all-time legends. I’m not saying he’s their greatest-ever goalkeeper, I actually don’t think the Spaniard comes anywhere close to Peter Schmeichel and Edwin Van Der Sar, but in terms of longevity, he’s certainly up there with their very best, so to see him part ways after 12 years the way he did wasn’t a good look for the Red Devils.
“If he wants to stay in the Premier League, I would like Unai Emery to consider him. Emi Martinez’s Aston Villa future is far from assured, so if he does leave, Emery, who is obviously a compatriot of De Gea and a person the former United number will know well, may look at the situation and think the 32-year-old is a suitable replacement.”
Villa should stay away from de Gea
There’s a reason why Erik ten Hag didn’t want to keep de Gea on board. If he was so good or still had the quality, then he would be donning Manchester United’s main gloves right now.
But the brutal truth is that no-one made more errors leading to goals last season than the 45-cap Spain international himself.
This isn’t a one-off, but a clear sign that de Gea is on the decline, therefore, if Martinez goes now, next summer or later down the line, why should his replacement be someone that is two years older and on the slide?!
