Peter Schmeichel urges Manchester United to sign Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris
Peter Schmeichel has urged Manchester United to sign Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to replace David de Gea, according to Sky Sports. The Manchester United legend admitted that the Spanish international’s transfer should have been sorted out before the beginning of the season, and showed his support for manager Louis van Gaal after the dropped the keeper ahead of the first Premier League fixture of the season against Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford.
De Gea was made to watch Manchester United’s 1-0 win over their opponents from the stands, with van Gaal playing new signing Sergio Romero in place of him. He was omitted from the squad because van Gaal felt that the 24-year-old was distracted by his ongoing transfer saga with Real Madrid, which wouldn’t allow him to focus properly on his team and performance.
Schmeichel gave his thoughts about De Gea’s complicated situation and van Gaal’s decision to leave Spaniard out when he spoke with Sky Sports News HQ, saying: "It should have been sorted out and hopefully it will be sorted out very soon,”
“It’s been talked about for all of this year nearly and it’s annoying that its been taken into the season. It should have been sorted out and I can see the manager’s point of view. I think he’s voiced a little bit of dissatisfaction in the last couple of weeks and I can see his point because it is his goalkeeper.
"I’m not going to interfere with his decision to play him or not play him. He’s made a decision, but it just shows you very clearly that he’s not happy about it.”
When asked about whether De Gea will leave or stay, he added: "I’ve got no idea (if De Gea will stay). If you’d asked me two weeks ago, four weeks ago I would have said he’s going to leave and we’re going to move on and put somebody else in goal but now I don’t know."
‘I would love Lloris to come to Manchester United’
There have been many reports in the media linking Ajax keeper Jasper Cillessen to the Reds in the recent weeks, and the Dutchman has been earmarked as the club’s next transfer target following their failed bid for Jan Oblak. The 24-year-old is familiar with Louis van Gaal, having played under him when the current United gaffer was managing the Netherlands national team. He has made 21 appearances for the Oranje since his debut for them in 2013 and started every match in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, helping his team to a third place finish.
Schmeichel doesn’t believe that Cillessen will be a worthy replacement for De Gea. He spoke about an incident in the World Cup that showed him why van Gaal doesn’t trust the keeper and gave his thoughts on Hugo Lloris, who he believes will be a good addition to the team.
"Cillessen is a good goalkeeper, but (Van Gaal) took him off for the penalty shoot-out at the World Cup and that shows some kind of no trust," Schmeichel said. “I think he doesn't trust him 100 per cent and I wouldn't like a goalkeeper like that at Manchester United.”
"If De Gea goes I would love Lloris to come to Manchester United. He has exactly the style of play and he is proven in the Premier League," he added.
Hugo Lloris began his career with his youth team Nice in 2004, first representing the B side before making a step-up to the main team in 2006. Two solid seasons with the club helped him move to Lyon in 2012, where he would go on to make 146 league appearances. His consistent performances turned him into one of the most sought after keepers in the world and in 2012, he joined Tottenham Hotspur for a reported fee of €15 million.
Lloris missed Tottenham’s opening day loss to Manchester United due to an injury he had picked up earlier in the summer.