De Gea’s Fiorentina tenure nearly over as Viola prepare to move on from ex-Man Utd goalkeeper

David De Gea’s time at Fiorentina could be coming to an end, with the Viola already looking at possible replacements for the former Manchester United goalkeeper.

According to Corriere dello Sport, the club have growing doubts about the 36-year-old because of his errors this season and his €3.5m net-a-year salary.

Paolo Vanoli defended his captain after Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Juventus, insisting De Gea isn’t a problem. Even so, the Spaniard was at fault for Gleison Bremer’s goal in the 66th minute, when he started to come off his line for a cross and then stayed put. He has also made mistakes against Sassuolo, Como, Genoa, Frosinone and Roma, and coming for crosses, long a weakness, appears to have got worse with age.

The current back-ups, Oliver Christensen and Luca Lezzerini, aren’t seen as long-term solutions, and sporting director Fabio Paratici has started to look elsewhere.

Tommaso Martinelli is the first option. The Fiorentina-owned goalkeeper is currently on loan at Serie B side Avellino. The club are also exploring the international market, and River Plate’s Santiago Beltrán, born in 2004, is among the names being linked.

The Corriere believes these could be De Gea’s final seven months in Florence.