• Premier League

United plan to offer Valdes contract

By Miguel Delaney | ESPN FC
October 23, 2014
Diego Costa to miss United trip

Manchester United will offer goalkeeper Victor Valdes a contract, depending on how he trains and performs physically over the coming weeks, a club source has told ESPN.

United have announced on their official website that former Barcelona goalkeeper Valdes, 32, is training with United to "complete his rehabilitation from a knee injury and to work his way back to fitness with the club".

Victor Valdes has been a free agent since his Barcelona contract ran out this summer © PA Photos
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Valdes, who tore his anterior cruciate knee ligament in March, is available on a free transfer after leaving the Nou Camp in the summer and was previously thought to be close to a move to Liverpool, but Brendan Rodgers recently said he had no plans to sign the player.

Initial indications had been that United boss Louis van Gaal, who had given Valdes his debut at Barcelona in August 2002, was primarily allowing him to train at Carrington as a favour but would keep an open mind if he impressed.

However, ESPN has now been told that United's plans go far deeper, and that this move comes after weeks of contact between Valdes and Van Gaal's goalkeeping coach, Frans Hoek, with United set to stage the first medical tests in the next few days.

Current United No.1 David De Gea has been linked with a move to Real Madrid in recent weeks, but he has played down speculation of a move to the Bernabeu.

This article originally appeared on ESPN FC

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