In a significant development in the football transfer market, Andre Onana, the renowned goalkeeper from Inter Milan, is on the brink of joining Manchester United. The deal, which has been under negotiation for weeks, is expected to be finalized soon, marking a new chapter for the Red Devils, according to Gianluca Di Marzio, (via FCInter1908) a Sky Sport Italia transfer market expert .
The £45m deal, which includes an additional £4.2m in add-ons, is expected to be completed in time for Onana to join United's pre-season tour in the United States. The Red Devils are scheduled to play friendlies against Arsenal and Wrexham on July 19 and 22, respectively.
BREAKING: Inter Milan have sold Andre Onana to Manchester United. [@DiMarzio via @90ordnasselA] #MUFC pic.twitter.com/o2Oyx0PaZl — MUFC Scoop (@MUFCScoop) July 13, 2023
André Onana on his final dinner in Milano, here at Javier Zanetti’s Botinero restaurant. Manchester United and Inter are closing in on final details of the deal. All parties expect Onana to become new Man United player in the next hours. Almost there ️ pic.twitter.com/VUWegECsaZ — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 13, 2023
Onana's move to Manchester United comes after Inter Milan agreed to lower their initial asking price of £50m. The Cameroonian goalkeeper, who helped Inter reach the Champions League final last season and kept 19 clean sheets in all competitions, is seen as a valuable addition to United's squad.
The transfer negotiations have been intense, with United's initial offer of £38m being flatly refused by Inter. However, progress has been made in recent weeks, with United's latest verbal proposal of £45m, plus add-ons, being more favorably received.
The deal is particularly significant for United's new manager, Erik ten Hag, who previously worked with Onana at Ajax. Ten Hag is keen to have Onana on board for the pre-season tour, allowing the goalkeeper ample time to integrate into the squad.
Onana's departure from Inter Milan has been met with mixed emotions. Despite the club's readiness to negotiate his transfer, Onana was seen smiling and greeting his teammates at Inter's training complex on Thursday. Inter Milan, on the other hand, is already eyeing potential replacements, including Shakhtar Donetsk's Anatoliy Trubin and Bayern Munich's Yann Sommer.
The transfer of Onana to Manchester United marks a significant change for the Red Devils, who recently released David de Gea after 12 years at the club. The addition of Onana to the squad is expected to bolster United's goalkeeping options, with Tom Heaton currently serving as the first-choice goalkeeper.
As the football world awaits the official announcement of Onana's transfer, the anticipation is palpable. The move signifies a new era for Manchester United, with the club's leadership hopeful that the addition of Onana will strengthen the team's performance in the upcoming season.
