Roland Cutinho
Manchester United face fierce competition from Al-Nassr for Inter Milan star Andre Onana
According to CBS Sports, Manchester United’s efforts to sign Inter Milan shot-stopper Andre Onana have faced competition from Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr.
Al-Nassr have reportedly made a financially appealing offer to secure the services of the goalkeeper, challenging United’s pursuit of the African honcho.
Erik ten Hag reportedly prefers Onana as a potential replacement for David de Gea, who is currently a free agent after his contract with Man United expired a few days ago.
De Gea’s future at the club is uncertain, as the club recently withdrew their offer of a new contract with reduced wages. It has been mentioned that Onana has attracted interest from the Saudi-based club Al-Nassr, as they have been investing heavily to attract European players to their country.
They have already secured the signing of Inter Milan’s Marcelo Brozovic and are now focusing on RC Len’s Seko Fofana.
Surprisingly, the Gulf state are showing a stronger interest in signing the 27-year-old goalkeeper, Onana, compared to their monitoring of De Gea. Al-Nassr, seeking a replacement for the injured David Ospina, has targeted the African star as their preferred choice.
However, luring the Inter goalkeeper away from Man United could be a difficult task, which adds to the pressure on the Red Devils to accelerate their negotiations with the Italian Serie A club.
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano recently provided an update on the Red Devils’ pursuit of the former Ajax player. Romano emphasised that United have not yet made a formal offer for the keeper, but the competition to secure his services is still ongoing.
Last week, Inter CEO Beppe Marotta revealed that discussions were taking place between Inter and United regarding Onana’s potential transfer. However, no official offer has been made yet, primarily because the ongoing takeover process has put financial constraints on the English club.
Inter CEO Marotta: "Manchester United should submit an official bid for André Onana in some days; then we will tell them our position and the player will do the same". 🔴 #MUFC
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 1, 2023
No official bid on Friday but Inter and Man Utd remain in contact over Onana deal. pic.twitter.com/aAOvAUWJoW
Al-Nassr’s offer to Onana reportedly includes a significant salary package, but it is uncertain whether the player is interested in joining a non-European club and would prefer to compete in the Champions League, especially after reaching the final with Inter Milan last season.
The Saudi Arabian club’s bid may prompt United to respond with a substantial offer of their own or consider pursuing alternative targets. The club finds itself in an unusual state of flux regarding the goalkeeper position.
De Gea‘s contract with Man United has expired, but negotiations are said to be ongoing, and there is a possibility that the Spanish goalkeeper may still remain at Old Trafford. However, reaching an agreement on a new contract has proven to be challenging.
The future of Dean Henderson also remains uncertain. Currently, United only have two senior goalkeepers on their roster, with Heaton being a bench player.
Given the circumstances, Ten Hag understandably does not want to compromise on the quality of the goalkeeper, which is arguably the team’s most pressing positional need. This includes both the overall quality of the player and their ability to fit into United’s desired playing style.
United are also exploring other options for the goalkeeper position. Some other potential targets include Porto’s Diogo Costa and Feyenoord’s Justin Bijlow.
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The club is considering these alternatives as they navigate the uncertainty surrounding their goalkeeper situation. However, the fans want the club to sign Onana due to his exceptional skills on the ball.
The 27-year-old would bring a new dimension to our current playing style, and we believe that United should not get carried away by Al-Nassr’s bid. In fact, they should further accelerate their attempts and sign the keeper as soon as possible.
