This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…
According to Dutch publication De Telegraaf, Manchester United are interested in signing Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana.
What’s the word?
The Red Devils were linked with a number of goalkeepers over the summer transfer window due to the uncertainty surrounding David de Gea’s long-term future at the club. Reports had claimed the Spaniard could be set to leave the club, but in the end, the former Atletico Madrid man put pen to paper on a bumper new deal.
However, that development does not appear to have deterred from the Red Devils from pursuing another shot-stopper. According to De Telegraaf, United, PSG and Tottenham have contacted Onana’s agent, Albert Botines, in order to inform him of their transfer interest.
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The report claims Ajax would be looking to receive a fee in the region of €40m to €50m (£34.5m to £43.2m) for a player who is under contract in Amsterdam until the summer of 2022.
End of De Gea
If United do end up fending off competition for the signature of Onana, that could well spell the end of De Gea’s career at Old Trafford. Whilst the Spain international may have only recently signed a new deal, the Red Devils would be loathed to lavish big-money on a goalkeeper simply to be second-choice.
Indeed, the current United number one has arguably endured one of his worst spells at the club – last season he made four errors directly leading to goals, whilst this season he has similarly made some crucial mistakes like against Crystal Palace at home.
In Onana, United would be getting someone who is extremely comfortable with the ball at his feet – akin to Ederson at Manchester City. As more and more sides look to play out from the back, the Cameroon international is the archetypal modern goalkeeper. The 23-year-old has an impressive pass accuracy of 77.3% in the Eredivisie this season, whilst De Gea averages just 68.5%.
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So whilst De Gea may be the man in between the sticks for now, if Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side bring in Onana, they could have a goalkeeper to play for the next decade or so. It would mark the end of an era, albeit also the beginning of a new one.