Sergio Romero is the first-choice goalkeeper for Argentina (Getty Images)
According to The Sun, Manchester United are in fear of losing second-choice goalkeeper Sergio Romero, who has attracted interest from Villareal and Real Sociedad.
The report also claims that United have drawn up a list of transfer replacements as Romero and third-choice goalkeeper Lee Grant might leave in the summer. The former will be out of contract by the end of this season.
Romero, 32, who started his career with Racing Club in Argentina, played for AZ Alkmaar, Sampdoria and Monaco before moving to Old Trafford in the summer of 2015. He previously helped Alkmaar lift the Dutch League Cup and the Dutch Super Cup.
Romero is an asset for the Red Devils in cup competitions, as he has turned up numerous times during cup matches. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men haven’t lived up to the expectations so far and are struggling to get into the top-four.
The draw against Wolves last weekend saw them slip to 7th position in the league and their hopes of securing Champions League qualification are at risk. And to do better next season, the Red Devils must avoid losing some of the best players in the team.
First-choice goalkeeper David De Gea has done well but he has not been at his best throughout the season. In 25 league games, he has conceded 29 goals while maintaining just 5 clean sheets.
At the same time, Argentine shot-stopper Romero, who hasn’t played in the league this term, has been brilliant outside the Premier League. In 10 games, he has kept 8 clean sheets and conceded only twice.
The 32-year-old also put in a solid performance against Wolves in the FA Cup and helped United progress in the competition. His best performance was in the 2016/17 Europa League campaign, where the Reds Devils won the title.
In all, Romero has kept 35 clean sheets in 54 games for the Old Trafford outfit, conceding only 24. Therefore, the club must not allow him to leave despite having other teams interested in him. The 2014 World Cup runner-up has been a key part of the team and is the ideal back-up for De Gea.
Manchester United have a world-class goalkeeper in Romero and therefore, Solskjaer must prevent him from leaving the club.
The Argentine has one year left on his contract but United must do everything possible to tie him down to fresh terms.
