Both Manchester United and Southampton have struggled this year. Under Jose Mourinho, Man U are having an incredibly tumultuous season and look as though they might miss out on Champions League football. In a much more severe case, Southampton look as though they could well be relegated this season if there aren’t major changes.
Amid Man United’s terrible season, David De Gea has been one of the few shining lights for Mourinho and unfortunately for the club, it looks as though they will have to fight to keep him.
At Southampton, summer signing Angus Gunn hasn’t had much game time with the first-team but he certainly looks as though he will be the club’s future number one going forward.
David De Gea
Signed for £18.9 million seven years ago, De Gea has established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the world and has been the club’s standout player in the post-Ferguson area.
He had a slightly poor start to his Man U career but since then, every facet of his game has improved. In the last 10 years, it’s hard to think of a goalkeeper that has managed to keep his team in the game as many times as David De Gea.
Alisson and Ederson may steal the headlines for their ability to be able to play as an extra outfield player but in terms of pulling out incredible saves, De Gea wins hands down.
His future at the club may be up in the air but what is for certain is that Man U pulled off an incredible deal for a player that will go down as one of the best to have played in the Premier League.
TT Grade: A+
Angus Gunn
Southampton signed Angus Gunn for £13.5 million over the summer, in what was a deal for the future rather than the present.
With Alex McCarthy performing so well in between the sticks, the chances of Gunn playing immediate first-team action were slim and as of yet, he has only played two games for Saints both of which came in the EFL Cup.
Gunn had a superb loan spell with Norwich last year and kept 16 clean sheets in 46 appearances for the club but was deemed to be surplus to requirements by Pep.
At 22, the England under-21 international has a bright future ahead of him and will surely become a very good signing for Southampton in the years to come. If he improves his game like De Gea did at his age, the young goalkeeper could be a star.
TT Grade: B-
The Verdict
Considering the difference in their respective careers, De Gea wins this one. De Gea is one of the best in his position and has proven time and again that he is Man U’s star player.
Gunn is still in the early stages of his career and has a long way to come before he can come anywhere close to De Gea’s level.
