Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin has reportedly emerged as a transfer target for AFC Ajax, who are looking for a replacement for Andre Onana.
According to a report from Fichajes, AFC Ajax have set their sights on Real Madrid goalkeeper as a candidate to replace exit-bound goalkeeper Andre Onana in the summer transfer window.
The Dutch giants will lose their long-standing No. 1, Onana when his contract runs out at the end of the season. The Cameroonian is poised to sign for Inter Milan on a free transfer as a long-term replacement for Samir Handanovic. His departure is set to leave a gaping hole in the goalkeeping department in Eric ten Hag’s side.
And, it seems like they have identified Lunin as one of the options to replace Onana. The 22-year-old arrived at Real Madrid in 2018, signing from Zorya Luhansk. Since then, he has had loan stints away at Leganes, Real Valladolid and Real Oviedo. Having stayed put at the Bernabeu last season, he made just one appearance, which has been the case this time as well.
A highly-rated young goalkeeper Lunin has had to bide his time due to the presence of Thibaut Courtois, who has been in sensational form in recent years. So, naturally, there has been a building frustration due to the lack of game-time, which has sparked speculations over his immediate future at the Spanish capital club.
There have been reports of interest from cash-rich Premier League club Newcastle United in the recent past. And now, Ajax, too, have made their interest in the 22-year-old Ukrainian shot-stopper known.
Real Madrid, for their part, see Lunin as the future of their goalkeeping department and do not wish to part ways with him permanently. But, the Merengues would be open to the possibility of a loan deal spanning one or even two seasons, as per the report.
Given the good relationship between Real Madrid and Ajax, the chances of such an arrangement taking place are also believed to be fairly high. Considering that the 22-year-old has featured just twice in eighteen months, a temporary stint away at a club of Ajax’s calibre, where he would get Champions League exposure, would serve well for both Lunin and Real Madrid.
