Kevin Trapp has admitted that reported interest from Manchester United is a “nice acknowledgement” of his impressive form.
The Eintracht Frankfurt goalkeeper has emerged as the latest name in the frame to provide competition to David de Gea. The Spaniard has started the season as United’s first choice, but endured a horror start to the new campaign.
Erik ten Hag is hoping to implement a new style at Old Trafford, centred around the keeper being comfortable with the ball at his feet. But his lack of confidence has been clear to see and was at fault for several goals during the demolition at Brentford two weeks ago.
Ten Hag publicly called out the former Atletico Madrid stopper and labelled some of his decision making as naive during the loss at Brentford. Speaking about Christian Eriksen’s dispossession leading to one of the Bees’ four goals, he said: "Yes, but he didn't have to receive the ball there, because we give options and the players have to choose but we said play long, invite them and play long.
"I don't want to play from the back when it's not possible. It was naive how we played today, you have to play more direct. We attracted them, the space was high up the pitch, you have to do that option but that is what we didn't do."
De Gea has since put in a more assured performance - helping United to a morale boosting 2-1 victory over Liverpool on Monday night. But speculation surrounding signing a new keeper before the September 1 deadline continues apace.
Trapp, 32, is fresh off a Europa League winning campaign with Eintracht Frankfurt and is more adept with the ball at his feet compared to the player he would be competing against for the starting berth.
However, the German is said to have reservations about joining a side where he is not a guaranteed starter, with Sport1 claiming Ten Hag has assured him of a regular place. And while United are yet to lodge an official bid, Trapp has admitted that the interest is flattering.
“As I said during my first spell at Frankfurt, it’s always nice when rumours like this come out,” Trapp said on Monday night. “It’s a nice acknowledgement. But I can’t say anything about it.”
Frankfurt are adamant that they do not want to sell Trapp with manager Oliver Glasner emphasising his role within the dressing room.
“From a sporting point of view, I would of course like to keep such a great goalkeeper and person,” he said. “He is a great role model and always one of the first to arrive at training. But I’m not the final decision-maker.”
De Gea’s long-term future remains a major talking point moving forward, with his contract set to expire next summer and his salary towards the highest in the entire Premier League. Dean Henderson remains an option to potentially replace him in the future, despite the Nottingham Forest loanee making it crystal clear he didn’t want to play under Ten Hag this season.
He explained: "I didn't really want the manager to come in and be able to see me in training because I knew he'd probably want to keep me. So I tried to do it all before I left for the season, I told all the hierarchy I need to go and play football.
"I don't want to be here playing second fiddle. And it panned out so I was almost gone before the manager came in the door and I haven't spoken to him since."
