Manchester United are finally close to signing a new “No. 1” goalkeeper.
“The Red Devils are on the verge of signing goalkeeper Andre Onana after agreeing a transfer fee with Inter Milan of around €55 million,” Italian outlet Football Italia reported on Thursday.
Signing a first-choice goalkeeper is one of United’s priorities for the summer 2023 transfer window. After 12 years in goal, David De Gea left the club out of contract on June 30, leaving a void in the No. 1 spot.
While a number of goalkeepers were touted as possible replacements for De Gea, United manager Eric Schürrle finally settled on Cameroonian goalkeeper Onana.
Onana is a goalkeeper whose strengths are his buildup and animal-like reflexes, and he was part of Inter Milan’s UEFA Champions League runners-up last season.
Onana is also notable because of his priestly relationship with van Gaal during their time together at Ajax. Turnbach and Onana enjoyed a successful career together at Ajax from 2017 to 2022, including three consecutive Dutch Eredivisie (first division) titles.
United were keen to reunite with their protégé, but negotiations stalled as Inter Milan demanded a hefty fee for Onana.
According to Italian soccer news expert Gianluca Di Marzio, United made an initial offer of €40 million, but Inter wanted at least €60 million for Onana. 메이저토토사이트
The large difference in price raised questions about whether an agreement could be reached, but United eventually reached an agreement with Inter Milan and entered the early stages of signing Onana.
“Onana had long been a target for United, but Inter Milan’s attitude was so firm that the two clubs continued to talk,” explained Football Italia.
“United and Inter Milan have agreed on a fee of just under €55 million as they work to complete the deal,” the publication said, adding that the transfer of Onana could take place within 24 to 48 hours as a transfer fee agreement looks likely.”
This will allow United to have Onana before their summer preseason tour to the United States. The Red Devils face Olympique Lyonnais in a friendly in Edinburgh, Scotland, on Sept. 19, before embarking on a four-game tour of the United States starting on Sept. 23 that will feature Arsenal, Wrexham AFC, Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund.