Manchester United now ready to pay £42m as star’s agent holds talks today

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Manchester United have now reportedly decided to meet Inter Milan’s asking price for Andre Onana with the goalkeeper’s agent holding talks with the Serie A club’s sporting director today. 

While that seemingly never-ending takeover saga continues to restrict Erik ten Hag’s ability to build upon a promising first season in charge of the Premier League giants, you cannot accuse those working behind the scenes on recruitment at Manchester United of letting the grass grow beneath their feet.

United agreed personal terms with Mason Mount weeks ago. Rasmus Hojlund wants to join. And with Andre Onana seemingly keen to reunite with his former Ajax boss at Old Trafford too, it seems the biggest obstacle standing in United’s way now is – as ever – the Glazer family, and their snail-pace approach to big financial decisions.

The good news is that, according to Gazzetta dello Sport, Manchester United appear willing to stump up the kind of fee Inter want for their Champions League runner-up. They do have around £120 million to spend, even before selling the likes of Harry Maguire and Fred.

READ: Confirmed Manchester United transfers in, out, loans, releases, youth for 2023/24

Manchester United close in on Andre Onana

United have ‘decided to’ meet Inter’s demands of £42 million plus bonuses. The deal could rise to £51 million with add-ons. But that still feels like a bargain for a 27-year-old glovesman who’s peak years should still lie ahead of him.

Onana is tailor-made for Ten Hag’s preferred style of football too. A goalkeeper with the passing range of a playmaker; his arrival – in place of the seemingly-departing David de Gea – could be something of a sliding doors’ moment in Ten Hag’s Old Trafford rebuild. His very own ‘Joe Hart for Ederson’ moment.

Gazzetta dello Sport add that Piero Ausilio, Inter’s sporting director, will meet with Onana’s agent in Ibiza today. Both have visited Manchester over the last week or so too (Gianluca di Marzio).

There remains a hope that any deal can be agreed over the weekend. Manchester United are ready to double Onana’s wages. Inter, meanwhile, are already hot on the heels of potential replacements.

The Nerazzuri have opened talks for Shakhtar Donetsk’s Anatoliy Trubin (Calciomercato).