Erik ten Hag wants Manchester United to sign two new goalkeepers this summer as the club ramp up their pursuit of Inter shot-stopper Andre Onana with Feyenoord’s Justin Bijlow also of interest.
The Red Devils are keen to sign a new goalkeeper to replace David de Gea, who is out of contract and is no longer a United player. As revealed by Mirror Football earlier this week, United sources have indicated they are in ‘preliminary discussions’ over signing Onana.
Ten Hag had initially drawn up a three-man shortlist for signing a goalkeeper this summer which included Brentford goalkeeper David Raya and Diogo Costa of Porto but Onana has emerged as the firm favourite, having been coached by Ten Hag at Ajax, and with Inter’s ongoing financial concerns.
United’s opening bid of £38.5million for the Cameroonian was knocked back but it is believed that Inter will accept a fee that will see them receive £45m. There is confidence on all sides that a deal can be concluded ahead of Inter returning to training on 13 July.
As has been detailed by the Manchester Evening News, Ten Hag wants United to sign Onana and another goalkeeper this summer. De Gea’s contract has expired and it is expected that Dean Henderson will join Nottingham Forest permanently in a £30million deal while Jack Butland has joined Rangers.
Feyenoord shot-stopper Bijlow, who has been capped eight times by the Netherlands, is also of interest to United. As detailed by The Athletic, United have already made the Dutch club aware of their interest.
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However, former Netherlands midfielder Willem van Hanegem expressed his concern about the goalkeeper in a warning against clubs looking to sign him – believing that his shot-stopping has declined as he focused on playing out from the back more after injury problems.
“Look, he is by far the best 'keeper we have,” Van Hanegem told the AD Willem&Wessel podcast. “But he is now only concerned with ‘how can I play football’. Before he got injured, he was much less concerned with that. Almost never. Now, he wants to show (everything he has), but it’s not necessary at all.
“I just thought he was very bad at goalkeeping with the Dutch national team. For him, it was blunders. You have to be honest. If he doesn’t keep (the goal) well, he’s not good.”
In his final season as Ajax boss, Ten Hag stressed the importance of multiple senior goalkeeping options. "Last year, I had a situation with Ajax we had three goalies injured and you don't want to come to a situation that, when you come to the end of the season, you play for trophies and you have to put in a young keeper.
"You can't expect it from the young goalkeeper but you also kill your season. That's what you have to be prepared for."
