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Real Madrid looks to have finalised the first deal of the January transfer window – which may be good news for Manchester United fans.
The Spanish club have apparently agreed to sign goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga from fellow La Liga side Athletic Bilbao, as a direct replacement for present incumbent Keylor Navas, in a deal worth £22 million. Arrizabalaga will take over as number one at The Bernabeu, signing a 6-year contract worth £2.2 million from January 1st.
This is good news for Manchester United because it diminishes the chances of them losing David de Gea to Real next summer. The Spanish giants have long been linked with a move for the United keeper but now it appears they have decided to look closer to home for a new goalkeeper.
De Gea has made 216 appearances for United in 8 seasons at the club, and is expected to be Spain’s first-choice keeper at the World Cup next June where, ironically, Arrizabalaga may be one of his understudies.
Andy is an exiled English football fan living in Cyprus. He loves all sports but football is his abiding passion, and he still has dreams every now and then about scoring the winning goal in a Wembley Cup Final, even though his playing days are long gone. He follows most major leagues, across Europe at least, and has a favoured team in each. When he’s not watching, listening, reading or downloading podcasts about football, he spend his time worrying about his beloved Arsenal.