Manchester United to step up goalkeeper search as transfer saga finally nears conclusion

Victor Valdes (left) is set to leave Manchester United

MANCHESTER UNITED are desperately seeking a new goalkeeper after agreeing to sell Victor Valdes to Besiktas, according to reports.

 

Besiktas manager Senol Gunes earmarked Valdes as his number on transfer target after selling reserve goalkeeper Cenk Gonen to Galatasaray, claim the Times.

United are unlikely to command a fee for ex-Barcelona goalkeeper Valdes, who joined the Old Trafford outfit on a free transfer last winter.

 

The 33-year-old, whose contract expires at the end of the season, has made just two first-team appearances since his arrival.

The move will put to bed a long-running transfer saga at United and trigger manager Louis van Gaal's search for a replacement.

 

The boss was reportedly set on Ajax stopper Jasper Cillessen but the Netherlands international spoke out over a switch earlier this week.

"As far as I know it has never been anything," Cillessen told NOS.

"I, the club, or my agent have never heard anything. As for me, this season begins and ends at Ajax."

Van Gaal is also hoping to land Hugo Lloris, although Tottenham are set on retaining their France international.

 

The desperation comes as current Old Trafford number one David De Gea continues his push for a late move to Real Madrid before the transfer deadline on Tuesday.

De Gea, 24, has refused to play as negotiations between the two clubs broke down over a proposed transfer.

United were asking for £25million for the Spain international, who is in the last year of his contract, while Real went as far as to offer a £13m fee.

Real have reportedly not given up on landing the player in this transfer window - although manager Rafael Benitez put his faith in former second-choice stopper Keylor Navas for their first Liga clash of the season last weekend.