Erik ten Hag’s relationship with Andre Onana turned sour in their closing weeks together at Ajax but the boss has driven Manchester United's pursuit of the goalkeeper.
Last week, United saw an £38.5million bid knocked back for Onana, who starred for the Nerazzurri on their run to the Champions League final. It is believed that the Milanese giants will be prepared to sell for a fee, including add-ons, totalling £45million – which should be reached imminently.
United are in the market to sign two new goalkeepers this summer as Ten Hag aims to revamp the department at the club. Dean Henderson is likely to join Nottingham Forest in a deal worth up to £30million while David de Gea confirmed his exit from Old Trafford on Saturday and Jack Butland has joined Rangers.
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Onana, who retired from international duty after the World Cup last year, joined Inter from Ajax last summer – departing the Amsterdam club at the same time as Ten Hag. He had made 214 first-team appearances for the Dutch club prior to his move to Serie A.
The goalkeeper and boss both left Ajax in the summer of 2022, going their separate ways to Inter and Manchester United respectively. However, despite their strong working relationship over the years – things did not all go swimmingly in their closing weeks.
Onana was dropped entirely from the Ajax squad for their Dutch Cup final against PSV Eindhoven at the end of the campaign, which Ten Hag’s side lost 2-1. Veteran goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg was instead selected by Ajax for that final loss and Onana did not play for the club again.
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The previous match, Onana had been booed off the field by his own fans despite the team winning as he had conceded from a mistake, to which he said he "did not give a s***." The goalkeeper had already established he was on his way out of the club and Ten Hag was unimpressed by his attitude in the closing weeks of the campaign.
That has not stopped Ten Hag from identifying the goalkeeper as ideal for his United side. United legend Rio Ferdinand has warned fans “there will be mistakes” if Onana comes to Old Trafford as he accustoms himself to the league but added: “I think he's a fantastic signing… you see teams pressing him and he does not even panic.”
The Cameroonian, 27, starred for the Nerazzurri last term. They reached the finals of both the Champions League and Coppa Italia, despite a slightly underwhelming Serie A season which saw them finish third and a whopping 18 points off title winners Napoli.
