CAPTION: Jan Oblak
Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak wants to leave in the summer following broken promises over his future — and the boyhood Manchester United fan favours a move to Old Trafford over Paris Saint-Germain, ESPN FC reports.
Last week, Oblak voiced concerns about Atletico’s competitiveness, with star forward Antoine Griezmann set to leave and Lucas Hernandez, Diego Godin, Filipe Luis and Juanfran also departing.
Oblak wants Atleti to match his ambition and is considering his options, with PSG also in the running after announcing that Gianluigi Buffon would leave in the summer.
However, according to a source quoted by ESPN FC, United are in the chase for Oblak, despite the fact that they will not be playing in the Champions League next season.
The source said the 26-year-old wants to play in the Premier League.
David De Gea’s United future is in considerable doubt — the Spain international is also a PSG target — and sources reported in April that United were considering triggering Oblak’s €120 million buyout clause in the event De Gea leaves.
Earlier this year, Oblak signed a new deal until 2023 and was told the Atletico squad would be strengthened to compete for La Liga and the Champions League.
Brazilian centre-back Felipe has joined from Porto and striker Nicolas Ibanez has come in from Atleti’s Mexican franchise Atletico de San Luis, but the source said Oblak did not feel the list of possible Griezmann replacements was good enough.
Regarded as one of the finest goalkeepers in the world, Oblak won his fourth Zamora Award as La Liga’s best goalkeeper after helping Atletico finish second in the table last season.
The Slovenia international kept 27 clean sheets in 50 matches in 2018 — more than any other goalkeeper in Europe’s top five leagues including Liverpool’s Alisson and United’s De Gea — and conceded just 36 goals.
ESPN FC reports that Manchester United declined to comment when asked about interest in Oblak.
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