Manchester United have something of a conundrum in the goalkeeping department, and might be inclined to solve their issue through swooping for Borussia Monchengladbach’s Yann Sommer.

What’s the word?

Sommer is out of contract at the end of the campaign, and according to Sport BILD, Man United are joined by the likes of Bayern Munich in gunning for the colossus’ signature, with Bavarian 'keeper Manuel Neuer ruled out for the rest of the season following a skiing accident that resulted in a leg break.

While the idea of adopting a central position between the sticks at the dominant German Champions is enticing, BILD reports that playing in the Premier League is a lifelong dream for the Switzerland No. 1. 

And with uncertainty clouding over the scrutinised David de Gea’s future at Old Trafford, a move might yet materialise with the January transfer window merely weeks away. 

Out with De Gea 

The report from Germany remarks that should Gladbach receive an offer of around €5m (£4.4m) for their 34-year-old shot-stopper, his club might be unwilling to let such a sum slip away, especially considering he will depart for nothing should he reach the end of the campaign at the BORUSSIA-PARK.

Such a small fee is certainly within United boss Erik ten Hag's capabilities, and it could ail the woes that De Gea is seemingly unable to counter at present.

United's Spanish stopper has recorded a Sofascore rating of just 6.79 in the Premier League this term, languishing below the 6.0 mark on three occasions thus far: versus Brentford (5.3), Manchester City (5.2) and Aston Villa (5.8).

He has saved just 66% of his total shots faced and conceded 20 goals from 14 outings at a rate of 1.4 per contest.

And the poor performances of the "liability" - as slandered by BBC Sport's Phil McNulty - are nothing new; in 2020, Evening Standard sport writer Dominic Booth branded the 32-year-old as "woeful" for a mistake against RB Leipzig, continuing to lament the ace by saying "a good goalkeeper smothers that and gets rid" in a detrimental 3-2 Champions League defeat that dumped United out of the Champions League.

Should a deal for Sommer be forged, Old Trafford could welcome a star with more assurance and greater calibre in one-to-one situations.

Via FBref, the 80-cap Swiss "monster” – as described by journalist Okon Nya - ranks within the top 18% of goalkeepers for save percentage across Europe's big five leagues this last year - De Gea, in retrospect, ranks within the bottom 45% - also ranking in the top percentile for touches.

Sommer has also been excellent in the German Bundesliga this term, with Sofascore recording his average rating at an impressive 7.4, a veritable wall with a 77% save percentage and a remarkable level of distribution illustrated by an 81% passing accuracy.

His particular skill set fits the modern, ball-playing approach that Ten Hag seeks to implement on the United squad, and with De Gea on a reported £375k-per-week, a cost-effective swoop appears to be a no-brainer.