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United identify De Gea replacement

jaspercillessen_152lhnyg9g53d1gceui7yik2l7Manchester United have made Ajax goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen their number one target to replace the departing David De Gea.

According to the Mirror, United’s goalkeeping coach Frank Hoek was instructed to draw up a short0list of possible replacements and the Dutchman has been identified as the man to replace De Gea.

Hoek, who has worked with Louis Van Gaal at Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, was instrumental in convincing the then Holland manager to promote Cillessen in the starting line-up ahead of Newcastle’s Tim Krul at the World Cup last summer.

The 26-year-old, who is under contract with Ajax until 2018, joined the Amsterdam club in 2011 and has conceded a mere 29 goals in 57 league games over the last two seasons, keeping 26 clean sheets and was instrumental as the club won four league titles in a row between 2011 and 2014.

The Ajax keeper is understood to be available for around £20m and negotiating with the Amsterdam club, whose manager, Frank de Boer, is a close friend of Van Gaal, under whom he played for the Dutch giants, would be undoubtedly easier than securing Hugo Lloris from Spurs.