According to the Manchester Evening News, Manchester United is reportedly interested in acquiring Inter Milan star goalkeeper Andre Onana in the upcoming summer transfer window.
Currently, David de Gea holds the undisputed number one position at United, but manager Erik ten Hag recently stated that he cannot guarantee de Gea’s role for the next season.
Ten Hag emphasized the importance of having competition for places, and it is suggested that United could rival Chelsea in their pursuit of Onana.
The Cameroonian shot-stopper joined the Italian giants from Ajax on a free transfer last summer. Since then, he has enjoyed an impressive season, keeping 19 clean sheets in 40 appearances. However, Inter Milan is open to selling him for the right price despite his strong performances.
It is rumoured that a fee in the range of €40-50 million could persuade the club to part ways with their goalkeeper. In preparation for Onana’s potential departure, Inter Milan has reportedly identified Guglielmo Vicario from Empoli as a potential replacement.
Notably, Onana previously worked under Erik Ten Hag for four-and-a-half seasons at Ajax, including their successful run in the UEFA Champions League, where they narrowly missed out on reaching the final in 2019.
The potential reunion with the manager at United could greatly enhance their chances of securing the signing of the keeper. The 27-year-old goalkeeper may be enticed to join United if he is guaranteed the starting position.
Onana has showcased his passing abilities this season, completing 79% of his passes and averaging 6.1 long balls per game. His commanding presence in claiming high balls and preference for acting as a sweeper-keeper have also garnered praise at Inter Milan.
The financial situation under the Glazer ownership may necessitate player sales to generate additional funds. Priority positions for United in the transfer market are likely to be a marquee striker, central midfielder, and central defender. Consequently, signing a new goalkeeper may not be considered an urgent need for the Red Devils.
The time factor might be crucial in this race considering Chelsea’s interest in Onana as well.
