Eintracht Frankfurt’s Kevin Trapp confirms that he rejected ‘written offer’ from Man United
German international goalkeeper Kevin Trapp has confirmed he rejected a ‘written offer’ Manchester United, in favor of remaining with Eintracht Frankfurt.
At least the Red Devils went a couple of days without a loss.
Just kidding! Mostly.
It’s tough to recall too many teams with the historical stature, the star power and, most notably, the financial might facing more fraught-feeling circumstances than did Manchester United ahead of their Monday night clash against rivals Liverpool. It’s been beaten to death so I won’t belabor it too much more but, between the on pitch shortcomings (the first half against Brentford was more performance art than competitive sport), the absence of a joined-up philosophy throughout the club, and scuffles in the transfer market, both in recruitment (there is apparently not enough money in the world to convince Frankie De Jong to move to Manchester for Europa League football) and divestiture (can I interest anyone in a used Cristiano??), it genuinely felt as though the sky was falling around Old Trafford.
In the lead up to the match, it was announced that the Red Devils had secured the services of one third of Real Madrid’s legendary, five-time Champions League-winning midfield, Casimiro. And, because the sporting gods have a sense of humor, with the 30-year-old Brazilian watching from a luxury box at the stadium, many of the same players who’d spent the previous fortnight looking (generously) hapless and (more accurately) hopeless (notably Cristiano and Harry Maguire were absent from the lineup), United looked in control for the entirety of the contest and comprehensively outplayed (an admittedly severely short-handed) Liverpool to the tune of a feel-good 2-1 victory.
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PREMIER LEAGUE TITLE ODDS |
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| Club | Sky Bet | ||||||
| Man City | 6/5 | ||||||
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| Liverpool | 15/2 | ||||||
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| Tottenham | 28/1 | ||||||
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In the day since, it’s been reported (and confirmed) that not only are United not done in the transfer market, but that fairly high on manager Erik ten Hag’s shopping list is a new goalkeeper – ostensibly to back up and push incumbent starter David De Gea, but possibly also to compete for his starting spot should more performances like the one witnessed against Brentford crop up.
The new United boss’s prime target on this front was Kevin Trapp, who was last seen by most helping Eintracht Frankfurt to Europa League crown, as the Man of the Match in the tournament’s final. It was reported on Thursday that United had approached Trapp with a written offer, which the German International rejected, in part because because Eintracht have Champions League football this season (thanks to that Europa League win) and United don’t, but certainly also because of the bond he’s forged with the club and its fans throughout his career.
The 32-year-old began his senior career a decade and a half ago at FC Kaiserslautern, where he spent four years (2007-11) with the second team before becoming the first team regular in the 2011-12 season. After that season, in which Kaiserslautern were relegated, Trapp was signed by Eintracht Frankfurt for a fee of €1.5 million. His first stint in Frankfurt lasted three seasons , during which Trapp made 82 league appearances (96 overall) for the club.
In 2015, he was signed by Paris Saint-Germain, for a fee of roughly €10 million. He spent two seasons as the starting keeper for PSG, during which the club won a league title, the Coupe de France and the Coupe de la Ligue. They also won each of these in 2017-18, when Trapp was the backup to Alphonse Areola. He returned to Frankfort on loan for the 2018-19 season, was immediately installed as a side’s starting keeper, signed permanently after that season, and has remained the first-choice keeper since.
So, sure, we can continue to give the United a tough time for getting spurned in the transfer market. And look, if that’s how you get your kicks, I can’t stop you. But, given everything we just covered, and considering he’s got a contract until 2024, when Trapp said on Instagram on the morning of August 25:
“It is true that there is a written offer. Manchester is a huge club, and I hope everyone can understand that I would consider such an offer, But yesterday I told the officials of both clubs that I have decided to stay at Eintracht.”
I’m inclined to believe him.
It was also reported on Thursday that, in light of Trapp’s decision to stay in Germany, the Red Devils will continue their look for a backup keeper within the Premier League, with speculation that they’ll bring in Newcastle’s Martin Dubravka on a loan, with an option to buy in the neighborhood of £5 million. Additionally, and most excitingly for fans on the red side of Manchester, that same report states that United plan to up their bid for Ajax forward Antony, with whom the club has already agreed personal terms to a reported €80 million (£67.5 million).
