Do Manchester United Need to Sign Goalkeeper Asmir Begovic?

David de Gea couldn’t have had a better season at Old Trafford.

The Spanish goalkeeper was an adroit presence between the sticks in his sophomore campaign at Manchester United, defying those who had written him off the summer before.

His critics called him a flapper, a keeper unable to hold onto a cross or collect a corner comfortably.

His presence in his own penalty area was called into question after year one. Though his grasp of the English language remains incomplete, many bemoaned the lack of a clear voice barking orders at the defence.

Comparisons with Peter Schmeichel and Edwin van Sar were unfair. Here was a young man in a foreign country playing football in a league completely different to La Liga.

In some respects, much of the criticism was deserved. Physically, De Gea was a little too unprepared for life in the Premier League.

The wiry keeper was thrown around like a rag doll at times; the Stoke City’s and West Ham’s took full advantage of his rawness.

He started the 2012/13 season strongly, and yet rumours of an impending departure sprung up.

Tabloid newspapers linked the Red Devils with Stoke City’s Asmir Begovic, a solid, promising Bosnian who has risen in stature over the past few seasons.

“United are to bid £8 million for Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic,” claimed the Daily Mail.

“De Gea, who has just turned 22, was seen as a big gamble when he signed from Atletico Madrid last year and United would like him to continue developing.”

To the uninformed, Begovic is the player de Gea isn’t. He is a commanding presence in the box, strong in the air and has a safe pair of hands.

Yet he would be one of the most redundant purchases in the history of the game.

It doesn’t matter how promising he is, he is just not needed. Even as a backup or a rival for the first-choice role.

If David Moyes were to play the rotation game with Begovic and De Gea, it would benefit neither. It would only damage their confidence.

Former manager Sir Alex Ferguson hinted at doing this last term with Anders Lindegaard, but quickly shelved the plan as De Gea improved.

And improve he did.

The Spaniard’s season grew from strength to strength as he helped rehabilitate a struggling backline shipping goals.

He delivered terrific performances against Real Madrid in the Champions League Round of 16. The side’s exit from the competition couldn’t be blamed on him.

Not only did he iron out the flaws from the previous campaign, he added a new gritty resolve to his game.

Against West Ham, Andy Carroll launched a horrific flying headbutt on him, one that would have kept any respectable hardman grounded for a considerable duration.

But he got up, a little dazed, and played on.

He made a couple of spectacular saves against Manchester City in the derby, a game United won 3-2. But this is just par for the course.

In April, Sir Alex said “De Gea has developed and matured as the season has gone on. We've seen a very progressive and developing young goalkeeper and next season he'll be even better” (via The Guardian).

He was named in the PFA's Premier League team of the season. A just reward for his effort.

He is the Red Devils' No. 1 for the foreseeable future. Begovic would only complicate matters. At 22 years of age, even better days lie ahead.

Money, even if the sum was a bargain £5 million, would be far better spent on other ventures. Such as a box-to-box midfielder or a flying winger.

The shock from Sir Alex's resignation has subsided, and De Gea seems raring to go under Moyes.

"It was a surprise to us all that Ferguson left," he told reporters this week (via The Independent). "But we know that when we get back to training he [Moyes] will be there and it is going to be a pleasure to work with him."

Moyes should be excited about working with one of the top young keepers in the game too.

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