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ESPN are claiming that sources close to Manchester United have told them Atletico Madrid's Jan Oblak is top of their goalkeeper target list should David de Gea leave in the summer.

What's the word, then?

Rumours about the future are never far away from United's solid Spaniard and the man considered by many to be the best shot-stopper in world football, after he came so close to moving to Real Madrid in 2015.

Now, his contract is just over a year away from running out and the Red Devils need to find a way of making him sign a new one. If they can't, they will look to Oblak or AC Milan's Gianluigi Donnarumma as a replacement, per the original report.

The 26-year-old key member of Diego Simeone's squad is Slovenia's first-choice and has 20 caps, leaving his native land to join Benfica in 2010 before a move four years later to the Spanish capital where he would quickly become one of Europe's most reputable 'keepers, making over 200 appearances thus far.

Oblak the perfect replacement

De Gea leaving Old Trafford seems inevitable and it's just a matter of time before it happens, whether that be for a fee in the summer or next year on a free.

It's time for United to let go of their star man. But never fear, Oblak is the perfect replacement for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

At 26, the Slovenian should be in the prime years of his career and has proven that this season with a stunning 17 La Liga clean sheets in 31 games in 2018/2019 thus far.

Check out World of Lewis' Man Utd v Barcelona matchday vlog in the video below...

If we compare that to the seven in 32 Premier League matches for De Gea, there's a suggestion that Oblak could even be an upgrade on Man United's four-time Player of the Year.

After all, he is two years younger and brings a similar pedigree of trophies won to the table and more top-level experience than the man he could be replacing did when he first moved to England.