Man Utd to battle Chelsea for €60m ‘keeper

Tom Hancock

• Updated: 12 Jun 2023 15:49 BST
• 3 min read

Manchester United and Chelsea could fight it out to sign highly rated Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana this summer.

The 27-year-old joined Inter a year ago on a free transfer after leaving Ajax, but his superb performances for the Champions League runners-up have caught the eye of a number of other top European clubs.

Both Man Utd and Chelsea look set to be in the market for a new ‘keeper over the coming months – and Onana is one of the best around right now.

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Nizaar Kinsella of the Evening Standard reports that Onana is Chelsea’s top target but that United may compete with them for his signature.

Inter are said to be demanding at least €58m (roughly £50m) for Onana, who has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €17.6m (approximately £15m).

With Edouard Mendy and Kepa Arrizabalaga – who remains the most expensive goalkeeper of all time – on their books, the Blues’ need for a new number one is perhaps less pressing than that of Man Utd.

There are legitimate doubts over both Mendy and Kepa – but David de Gea’s lack of suitability for Erik ten Hag’s system at United is arguably a more fundamental issue.

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A safe pair of hands

Based on his current form, Onana would be a significant upgrade on any of Chelsea or Man Utd’s current ‘keepers.

The Cameroonian – who somewhat surprisingly retired from international football after last year’s World Cup – made the most saves in the 2022/23 Champions League as Inter reached the final, where they were narrowly beaten by Manchester City.

He also kept eight clean sheets in 24 Serie A outings, helping Simone Inzaghi’s side secure a third-placed finish and ensure Champions League football next term.