‘HERE WE GO’ Man Utd find De Gea replacement…and another Ten Haag protégé
Andre Onana is close to a move to Manchester United.
One of Manchester United’s goals in the summer transfer window was to improve their goalkeeping. While club legend David de Gea was available, manager Eric ten Haag wanted a goalkeeper whose strengths lie in his ability to build up rather than save. Furthermore, despite De Gea agreeing to a lower salary as part of his contract, negotiations stalled when United withdrew their original offer and offered a lower salary, and with De Gea’s departure, United’s search for a goalkeeper became inevitable.
메이저놀이터 The players linked to United were all goalkeepers of the style that Van Gaal was looking for. The leading candidate, and United’s favorite, was Inter Milan goalkeeper Onana. Onana was previously coached by van Gaal at Ajax, where he helped the club reach the last four of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) in 2018-19. He also anchored Inter Milan’s backline last season, helping the Nerazzurri reach the UCL final.
Onana’s strengths are clear. He’s always been considered a goalkeeper with a strong buildup, and he’s also a goalkeeper who understands Van Gaal’s tactics. Of course, he also has the ability to make saves, which is a fundamental part of being a goalkeeper. That’s why Onana was a top priority for United.
Negotiations seem to have progressed quickly. Onana has reportedly agreed to join United. European soccer transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano, who works for the British publication The Guardian, wrote on social media on Saturday that “Onana has agreed 99.9% (to join United) and will head to Manchester after waiting for final confirmation on the payment of his wages. Coach Ten Hagh has called Onana in the last 48 hours to make sure there are no problems. We just have to be patient,” he said, confirming Onana’s move to Manchester United.
Soon after, Romano broke the news with his signature “Here We Go” message, indicating that Onana’s move to United was finalized. Onana is expected to travel to Manchester to undergo a medical.
If Onana joins the Red Devils, it will be one less thing on United’s mind. With their goalkeeping needs taken care of, the Red Devils will likely focus on their core transfer market priority this summer: adding a striker. The Red Devils have been linked with the likes of Rasmus Hojlund, Gonzalo Higuain, and Randall Kolo Moani.