Manchester United are reportedly on the brink of completing a blockbuster move for Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana, with the Serie A giants lining up Yann Sommer as a replacement.
According to transfer expert Florian Plettenberg, Manchester United are closing in on making Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana their second summer signing.
David de Gea’s future remains up in the air after his contract expired at Old Trafford on June 30. The Spaniard is technically a free agent. But Manchester United have remained in talks with their long-standing No. 1 over a possible new deal.
It is understood de Gea signed fresh terms before his old contract expired, only for the Red Devils to retract their offer. With his contract extension hanging in the balance, the 32-year-old has dropped a fresh cryptic tweet with a juggler emoji, perhaps conveying that the saga has become something of a circus.
Now, his future at Manchester United appears to depend on the club’s pursuit of Andre Onana. The Cameroonian star has been identified as manager Erik ten Hag’s prime target for the number one role, and talks are advanced with the Nerazzurri.
Concrete talks between Bayern & #Sommer about his future will start after his vacations. Nothing decided yet.
But it’s correct: @Inter is an option for him as #Onana is on verge to join #MUFC.
➡️ But no negotiations with Bayern yet
➡️ No agreements between Inter & Sommer
➡️… pic.twitter.com/mbM1ZXqxfr— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) July 6, 2023
As such, Manchester United have already made multiple bids for the 27-year-old. They recently proposed to pay €45 million plus €5 million in add-ons, but it was turned down. So there is no agreement over a fee at this stage. However, United are confident of sealing the deal, with Fabrizio Romano claiming the Nerazzurri are willing to accept a €55 million offer.
Inter have now opened talks to sign Yann Sommer from Bayern, giving a clear indication that Manchester United are getting closer to an agreement for the Champions League finalist, which comes as music to the ears of the Red Devils fans.
The presence of Ten Hag has played a major factor in luring Onana. The duo worked together previously at Ajax, where the Dutchman developed Onana into a ball-playing, modern goalkeeper.
The 27-year-old left Ajax to join Inter on a free transfer last summer. He kept 19 clean sheets in 41 games across competitions for the Nerazzurri this past season and was in sublime form in the Champions League, which attracted interest from a whole host of top European clubs, including Manchester United’s Premier League rivals Chelsea.
Onana will not be the only goalkeeper moving to the Theatre of Dreams, though, with reports that United have submitted a formal £5 million offer for a new backup goalkeeper, with Urawa Red Diamonds’ Zion Suzuki set to sign for the Old Trafford outfit.
The news comes after it was reported that Dean Henderson is expected to be sold following his loan spell at Nottingham Forest last season in a bid to raise more funds to enable Ten Hag to bolster other areas of the squad, with a new striker being the club’s priority this summer.
