Manchester United are reportedly contemplating a swoop for Everton star Amadou Onana after claims that Italian giants Juventus could hijack the deal for top target Sofyan Amrabat.
Manchester United are keen on signing Amadou Onana from Everton in the ongoing summer transfer window. That is according to a report from Daily Mail, which claims the Belgian international is being viewed as an alternative to Sofyan Amrabat at Old Trafford.
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag remains keen to further reinforce his midfield this summer, having already landed Mason Mount in a £55 million deal from Chelsea. For several weeks, the Dutchman has had his eyes set on Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat.
Amrabat and ten Hag have an excellent working relationship during their time together at Dutch outfit FC Utrecht between 2015 and 2017. The Red Devils have even agreed personal terms with the Fiorentina enforcer, while they have been locked in talks with Fiorentina to secure his services.
It is said that Manchester United are unable to lodge an offer for Amrabat until they offload some of the players surplus to ten Hag’s requirements, with Harry Maguire on the verge of joining West Ham United. Manchester United are also currently in the process of selling midfielder Fred to Fenerbahce in a £13 million move, and they are likely to pursue replacements after their departures.
However, reports in Italy suggest they may be left disappointed in their pursuit of Amrabat, as it has now emerged that Juventus are pushing hard to land the Moroccan international’s signature, utilising the funds from the sale of Denis Zakaria to AS Monaco.
With Manchester United at serious risk of missing out on Amrabat, they have identified Everton’s Amadou Onana as a perfect alternative if Amrabat’s move to Juventus materialises in the coming days.
Onana only arrived at Goodison Park last summer in a £33 million deal from LOSC Lille and was one of Everton’s top performers during a relegation-battling campaign in 2022/23. Ideally, Everton would be desperate to keep an important player like Onana.
However, the Toffees could be swayed into selling Onana in order to help fund moves for some of Sean Dyche’s top transfer targets. Everton have only spent money on one player so far, 19-year-old centre-forward Youssef Chermiti, who cost £15 million when he joined from Sporting CP.
Meanwhile, they have brought in Ashley Young on a free transfer and also loaned Arnaut Danjuma from Villarreal. With Dyche still looking to reinforce at the back, out wide, and up top, they could definitely do with some additional funds.
With Onana’s current Everton contract not due to expire until 2027, the Toffees are also in a strong negotiating position, although Manchester United are only willing to sign him for a reasonable fee.
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At the same time, it has also been suggested in other reports that Manchester United are still in pole position for Amrabat, who prefers a move to Old Trafford over anywhere else. That said, Onana could be the man they will call this summer if the Red Devils fail to agree a deal to bring Amrabat to Old Trafford.
