Manchester United could have a new goalkeeper by Friday night after a breakthrough in negotiations to sign Andre Onana from Inter Milan.
Talks took a major step forward on Thursday night, with a verbal agreement reached with the 27-year-old goalkeeper and the two clubs closing in on a deal for a fee of around £40million. United are still in talks with Feyenoord keeper Justin Bijlow, 25, in case there are any last-gasp hitches with Onana.
Conversations had begun with the Dutchman when United feared Inter’s demands over Onana would not match their own valuation. But a deal for the Cameroon international is now very close with United, and the keeper is understood to be thrashing out the finer details of his contract.
The length of that deal is one factor still being discussed, with two options on the table. The first is a four-year deal with the option of a further 12 months in United’s favour, while the second is a straight five-year deal.
Onana’s capture would wrap up a very good week for United boss Erik ten Hag’s following Mason Mount ’s £60m signing from Chelsea. And it would see the keeper reunited with Ten Hag, with whom he enjoyed success at Ajax.
Onana impressed greatly in Serie A with Inter last season while helping the Italian giants reach the Champions League final, which they lost to Manchester City. He is widely regarded as one of the best footballing goalkeepers in the world and Ten Hag sees him as a better fit in the way he wants his team to play than David de Gea.
Onana has also been offered a move to Saudi Arabia this summer as Pro League clubs splash the cash. But the Cameroon No.1 is now set to snub Saudi offers with a move to United and the Premier League very close to being agreed.
United had considered Brentford’s David Raya and Porto’s Diogo Costa, but were put off by their price tags. The Bees were demanding £40m for Raya, while Porto value Costa at around £64m.
De Gea's £375,000-a-week deal expired at the end of June, leaving United to find a new goalkeeper following the addition of Mount from Chelsea. Dean Henderson is back in training at Carrington, but is keen to leave the club permanently following his loan to Nottingham Forest last season.
United were forced to use short-term loan deals for Martin Dubravka and Jack Butland last season to provide cover for De Gea and Ten Hag has now prevented 37-year-old Tom Heaton from leaving to join newly-promoted Luton Town.
