Feyenoord goalkeeper Justin Bijlow has issued a cryptic response to reports linking him with a £20 million move to Premier League giants Manchester United.
While those claims suggesting that Feyenoord’s Eredivisie winner could end up at Old Trafford have died down a little over the last week or so, Justin Bijlow could yet return to the conversation.
Manchester United are making progress in a deal for Erik ten Hag’s number one goalkeeper target, but the Red Devils remain some distance apart in negotiations with Inter Milan for Andre Onana.
Inter want much of Onana’s £51 million fee to be paid up front. As such, there are also concerns over the structure of the deal; United lining up a couple of affordable alternatives – such as Kevin Trapp and the aforementioned Bijlow – should things go south.
Justin Bijlow is Manchester United’s Andre Onana alternative
Bijlow, at a rumoured £20 million, may be available for about half the fee Inter want for Onana. And before you all rush to proclaim him ‘half’ the goalkeeper Onana is too, it’s worth pointing out that Ten Hag’s other Eredivisie imports have not done too badly at Old Trafford; Lisandro Martinez, Antony and Tyrell Malacia key to last season’s third place finish.
Bijlow, like Onana, would leave the Netherlands as an Dutch champion. He shone as Feyenoord won the Eredivisie for only the second time this century under Arne Slot.
The Rotterdam-born 25-year-old also started during Feyenoord’s 2-0 friendly win over Club Brugge on Wednesday, batting away those oh-so predictable, Manchester United-themed questions at full-time.
“We’ll see,” Bijlow told ESPN with a smile probably best described as ‘coy’.
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“But out of respect for Feyenoord, I don’t want to talk about other clubs.”
Goalkeepers wanted at Old Trafford
The Daily Mirror reported over the weekend that United were still in talks over Bijlow. Keeping the 25-year-old close by with Inter reluctant to budge on their Onana valuation.
Feyenoord’s much-admired head coach, meanwhile, feels he would be powerless to prevent Bijlow from departing if United were to step up their interest.
“I am aware of how concrete it is,” the former Tottenham and Leeds target tells Voetbal Primeur. “But I am not the person to go public with it.
“ We (would) like to keep our team together. That does not mean that it is not possible for these players to leave. I cannot veto (their moves).”