Liverpool, Chelsea target Valdes – sources
Liverpool and Chelsea are considering a shock move for Manchester United goalkeeper Victor Valdes, sources have told ESPN FC.
Valdes, 33, is on the list of targets for United’s Premier League rivals Liverpool and Chelsea as they weigh up bolstering their goalkeeping options.
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is worried that he could face a major goalkeeping crisis if Asmir Begovic picks up an injury and joins No.1 keeper Thibaut Courtois on the sidelines.
Begovic is currently filling in for Courtois with the Belgium No. 1 unlikely to return until December at the earliest following surgery on a knee injury, and Mourinho fears losing Begovic to injury or suspension would leave a major hole in his side.
Liverpool are also considering their goalkeeping options with Simon Mignolet coming under recent scrutiny following his mistake in the 1-1 draw with Norwich last weekend.
Mignolet was dropped midway through last season before reclaiming his place soon after following an injury to Brad Jones, and there are continued doubts over the Belgian being the long-term answer to Liverpool’s goalkeeping problems.
As a result both Liverpool and Chelsea are monitoring Valdes’ situation at United, with the Spaniard still out of favour at Old Trafford.
Valdes has been frozen out of the first-team picture at United after a falling out with Louis van Gaal earlier in the summer, with the Dutchman claiming it was Valdes’ refusal to play in an under-21s match that resulted in him being omitted from his plans.
The former Barcelona star has less than a year to run on his contract at United and with David De Gea signing a new four-year deal at Old Trafford, it seems unlikely Valdes will be returning to the first-team fold.
Valdes has not been handed a squad number this season and was only named in United’s Premier League squad to conform to Premier League rules on 25-man squad quotas.
However, it remains to be seen if Van Gaal would be willing to allow Valdes to join a Premier League rival even though he is surplus to requirements at Old Trafford.
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