Manchester United will have a big decision to make in goal this summer and it seems the club is lining up options with Dominik Livakovic now linked to Old Trafford
According to the Croatian newspaper Jutarnji, Manchester United wants Dominik Likakovic for next season. Likakovic’s release clause is just £8.8M with his current contract ending in 2024.
Likakovic will be remembered for his phenomenal performance at the most recent World Cup in Qatar. The 28-year-old backstopped Croatia en route to a third-place finish. Likakovic notably saved multiple penalties against both Japan in the round of 16 and Brazil in the round of 8.
Likakovic joined Croatian giants Dinamo Zagreb from NK Zagreb in 2015 and became the club’s starting keeper in 2016. Despite interest and rumours swirling around Likakovic during his tenure at Zagreb, he has remained. Likakovic contributed to club history in 2021 when Dinamo Zagreb upset Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League. Likakovic made a crucial save in the dying minutes of extra time against Harry Kane to see Dinamo Zagreb through.
Likakovic became the first-choice keeper for Croatia at Euro 2020 where he played every game. He was also a part of Croatia’s famous run to the World Cup finals in 2018 but never saw the field.
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A De Gea replacement or backup?
There is plenty of talk on if David De Gea will leave Manchester United this summer. His contract will expire and at the moment things look to be wide open in negotiations.
Likakovic looks to be a very good keeper but there of course remain tons of justified reasons to be concerned. Likakovic is 28 years old and has yet to play above the Croatian top flight. There is also reasonable concern about replacing De Gea, a pure shot-stopper, with Dominik Likakovic, who is also a pure shot-stopper.
A big concern with Manchester United is that David De Gea cannot play the ball out of the back. This can be highlighted in their Europa League knockout match against Real Betis. A David De Gea pass to Harry Maguire is picked off and Real Betis took the lead immediately after gaining possession. Likakovic is similar in that he is not great at distributing the ball out of the back.
Should Dominik Likakovic be a top target for Manchester United?