Fabrizio Romano reports that Manchester United’s new bid for Andre Onana reaches £39 million as the Inter Milan goalkeeper turns down Saudi Arabian offers in favour of the Red Devils.
There are similarities between Andre Onana’s situation and the one facing Mason Mount before Manchester United finally made a breakthrough in discussions with Chelsea.
Inter, like Chelsea, are under pressure to sell. Not because Onana, like Mount, is refusing to sign a new contract. But because the cash-strapped Nerazzuri need to raise funds in order to keep Romelu Lukaku at San Siro.
What’s more, there is a quiet confidence in United’s camp that a hefty asking-price can be bartered down. The Red Devils landed Mason Mount for around £20 million less than Chelsea were initially demanding at the start of the window. And the smart money is on United and Inter meeting somewhere in the middle with Onana too.
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Manchester United close in on Inter Milan’s Andre Onana
Fabrizio Romano backs up claims from Sky Italia reporter Gianluca di Marzio, insisting that Man United have today made a ‘verbal’ offer for the Cameroon international. But while Onana is ‘keen’ on reuniting with his former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford – and while talks are advancing (talkSPORT) – there is no agreement yet; the two clubs still £12 million apart in their respective valuations.
“Understand Manchester United have presented in the morning their verbal proposal for Andre Onana,” Romano writes on Twitter. “£39m total package — add ons included.
“The bid will be official soon.
“Inter expect 60 million euros (£51m) fee for Onana, add ons included. No agreement at this stage. Onana (is) keen on move.”
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In a further boost to United’s hopes of bringing in a genuine ‘ball-playing’ goalkeeper to take David de Gea’s place between the sticks, Calciomercato reports that Onana has turned down a money-spinning offer from Saudi Arabia.
Onana will reportedly earn around £100,000-a-week at Manchester United. One assumes he would have been offered a lot more at an Al-Nassr side who have already agreed to bring in his Inter team-mate Marcelo Brozovic to join Cristiano Ronaldo.
Now, with Inter already in pursuit of potential replacements – despite missing out on Guglielmo Vicario to Tottenham Hotspur – it would be a surprise at this stage if one-time Barcelona youngster Andre Onana did not end up at Manchester United over the coming days or weeks.
United, meanwhile, have also inquired about the availability of Feyenoord’s Justin Bijlow.
There is, however, a bit of uncertainty about whether Bijlow will arrive as a ‘number one’. Or, instead, as a back-up option. It could be the latter, presuming Dean Henderson and David de Gea both leave this summer.