According to reports from Italy, Manchester United and Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana are now just a few steps away from a signing. The two parties have nearly reached an agreement on a price, and Erik ten Hag wants to complete the transfer as soon as possible.
Andre Onana will he join Manchester United?
Man United have made significant progress in their pursuit of Onana after reaching an agreement on personal terms with the Inter custodian last week. Ten Hag was hoping to sign Onana to replace David de Gea, who left the team after his contract expired at the end of June.
The 27-year-old’s current employers have reportedly told him to “prepare” for a move to Old Trafford, with United “confident” about being able to complete the deal, according to journalist Ben Jacobs. As a result, Inter appear to be resigned to losing the player, who is currently playing for Inter.
The manager wants the deal to be completed so he can join the rest of the team on their preseason tour of the United States, according to reports from Italy (via Sport Witness). Ten Hag is eager for United chiefs to complete the deal.
Man United believe that a bid exceeding €50 million (£43 million) will be sufficient to close the deal and close the gap between Inter’s demands and the price they are willing to pay.
According to reports from last week, the deal is expected to be completed by the end of the week, but it is now claimed that the negotiations could be concluded as early as Wednesday, indicating the deal may be completed sooner than anticipated.
How talented is Andre Onana?
Journalist Oma Akatugba praised the Cameroonian as “superb,” and former West Ham United custodian Shaka Hislop praised him for his leadership abilities, saying:
“I am very impressed with everything I see. Onana’s leadership and sense of presence, which I believe Manchester United has missed in that position, impressed me the most in that [Champions League] final.
The one flaw in David de Gea’s game when he was at his best is that he wasn’t the kind of leader I believe Manchester United needed in that position. Despite being a fantastic shot-stopper throughout the years, de Gea has one drawback.
I have no issues with performance, but I thought the leadership could have been improved. All of those criteria are met by Onana.
Not only might he be a better option than De Gea due to his presence on the pitch, but he also outperformed the Spaniard in the league last season, posting a higher average SofaScore rating, as well as significantly higher average save and crosses-stopped percentages.
De Gea won the Premier League’s Golden Glove award for the second consecutive season last year. It is understandably sad to see him leave the team after spending so much time there, but Onana has all the makings of a great successor. Ten Hag will now be hoping that the Inter goalie will be fit for Man United’s opening preseason matchup against Arsenal on July 22.
