Erik ten Hag is reportedly reassuring Andre Onana that Manchester United will ‘do everything’ to bring the Inter Milan goalkeeper to the Premier League this summer.
Is this a bit of brinksmanship, perhaps?
Reports suggesting that Manchester United could turn to Justin Bijlow as potential £20 million to Andre Onana a way of convincing Inter Milan to drop their demands, like when using Moises Caicedo as something of a ‘stalking horse’ before landing Chelsea’s Mason Mount?
Inter, after all, need that Andre Onana deal as much as United do. As Gazzetta dello Sport point out, selling the one-time Barcelona goalkeeper represents the Nerazzuri’s best chance of financing a deal that would see Romelu Lukaku stay at San Siro.
What’s more, Inter’s well-publicised financial issues would be eased, at least to some extent, by an agreement to take Onana to Old Trafford for an initial £42 million.
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Manchester United remain hopeful of Andre Onana deal
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, there remains a sense of ‘optimism’ behind the scenes that a deal between United and Inter will eventually be agreed. Ten Hag has reportedly ‘reassured’ his former Ajax glovesman that United will move heaven and earth to bring him to England, having already ‘reached an agreement’ with personal terms.
The Cameroon international is expected to double his wages at United, taking home around £100,000-a-week. That is around a quarter of the salary David de Gea was earning last term; the long-serving Spaniard officially becoming a free-agent on Saturday.
There remains a chance that De Gea returns to United; conversations between both parties still scheduled over the coming days (The Sun).
But make no mistake. If De Gea is still United’s number one next season, that will have been a decision made with money in mind.
Ten Hag has made no secret of his desire to bring in a goalkeeper more confident with the ball at his feet. And Onana is one of Europe’s very best in possession.
‘Very difficult to replace him’
Gazzetta add that Inter want £42 million up front, rising to £51 million. Good value for a young, improving shot-stopper, but a fee that could test the seams of United’s rather limited budget.
“Onana is perfect for this Inter,” former Inter midfielder Fausto Pizzi tells Tuttomercatoweb.
“He is very good with his long and short passes. It would be a shame to lose him. I can understand that, at the corporate level, it is an absurd capital gain.
“But it will be very difficult to replace him.”
Sky Italia reporter Riccardo Gentile, meanwhile, believes Inter will accept an offer.
“Inter are doing well. The Onana operation is a good signal; the ability to go and get him for free and re-sell him at that figure. It is a crazy market operation.
“If an offer like that comes, you can’t say no to make ends meet. That’s how it works.”
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