Augsburg goalkeeper Rafal Gikiewicz says he came close to moves to Manchester United and Newcastle over the summer, even signing legal papers over the potential transfers.
Manchester United were looking for a new back-up goalkeeper over the summer, linked with a number of stoppers and eventually bringing in Martin Dubravka from Newcastle.
Dubravka’s switch then meant that the Magpies were on the look out for a new ‘keeper to support Nick Pope.
Gikiewicz says Manchester United were considering him before they signed Dubravka and Newcastle were looking at him as a replacement for the Slovakian.
The 35-year-old even put his signature to some legal documents to set the possible moves in motion, but nothing came of them in the end.
‘Not only was I linked, but I also signed various powers of attorney with either Manchester United or Newcastle United,’ the Polish goalkeeper told Canal+, via Sport Witness.
‘In the goalkeeper market, everything works like dominoes. As Martin Dubravka leaves, this is the place and so on.
‘They called me from England and asked if I wanted to take a risk. At the same time, they added that something could happen in the last hours of the transfer window and whether I wanted to take a risk. I was sitting at home, so what’s the risk? I signed everything and waited for the development of events.’
A move to the Premier League would have been a remarkable one towards the end of Gikiewicz’s career, after spening much of it either as second string or not in a top league.
He started playing regularly in the Bundesliga only in the 2019-20 season at Union Berlin, before moving to Augsburg where he has been first choice since.
MORE : Virgil van Dijk responds to Lisandro Martinez height criticism and rates his start for Manchester United
MORE : Casemiro beats Lisandro Martinez and Marcus Rashford to Manchester United’s player of the month award
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Share your story or advertise with us: Whatsapp: +2347068606071 Email: info@newspotng.com
