Manchester United may be forced into signing a new goalkeeper after Andre Onana’s injury setback.
A new goalkeeper was already on the shopping list at Manchester United before this week, with Emiliano Martinez open to joining from Aston Villa this summer.
But now, Andre Onana has suffered an injury which will rule him out of pre-season and likely the start of the 2025/26 campaign.
The 29-year-old will also miss a portion of the campaign in January when he joins up with Cameroon for the Africa Cup of Nations.
It feels inevitable that United will now have to buy a new keeper, and there is an option to bring back Matej Kovar if the club wanted to.
Man United could trigger £6m Matej Kovar clause
Radek Vitek could benefit from Onana’s injury having become a highly promising star in United’s academy, but Ineos could also bring in a new shot-stopper this summer.
One option is former United star Matej Kovar, who left to join Bayer Leverkusen in 2023.
Erik ten Hag is ready to sell Kovar again after taking charge of the German outfit, and the 25-year-old is now closing in on a move to PSV Eindhoven.
As reported by journalist Florian Plettenberg, a £6m fee has been agreed but PSV are waiting on United to green light the deal as the Red Devils have a matching right clause.
It means United would be given priority to re-sign Kovar if they matched the £6m fee on offer.
However, United are expected to snub the clause and allow the move to go ahead, despite the opportunity to bring back a former academy talent.
Replacing Andre Onana has become a top priority
With 35 days to go until the start of the season, United are at risk of going into a new campaign with the majority of their transfer business yet to be done.
Onana’s injury means Amorim will be without a first-choice goalkeeper, especially if Altay Bayindir leaves.
United have paid the price in recent seasons for waiting too long to dip into the market – a 4-0 defeat to Brentford under Erik ten Hag forced the Red Devils to panic buy back in 2022.
READ MORE: Erik ten Hag’s three biggest mistakes at Manchester United, the club are paying dearly now
Amorim wanted business done early this summer and so far Ineos have let him down. The leadership at Old Trafford cannot afford to leave him without a new goalkeeper when Arsenal visit Old Trafford next month.
Emiliano Martinez and John Victor appear to be the two most likely targets, with United seeing no reason to stand in the way of the Kovar deal.
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