Manchester United have agreed with Inter on the transfer of goalkeeper Andre Onana.
The Cameroon international has become United’s first goalkeeping target and the long-term replacement for David de Gea, who was out of contract and left the club earlier this month. Manchester United have held talks with Inter in recent days to agree a move for the 27-year-old.
Inter were holding out for €60m and rejected two bids from Manchester United for Onana, but after further negotiations a deal has now been reached. Manchester United are understood to have agreed to pay €54m (£46m) including add-ons to secure Onana’s services. The add-ons alone are worth €4 million of that fee, and while all payment terms have yet to be finalised, no problems are anticipated.
Manchester United have already agreed personal terms with Onana, who previously worked with Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag at Ajax, and the deal is now expected to be completed quickly. Onana will travel to United’s training base in Carrington and undergo a medical before signing a five-year contract with an option for a further year.
Onana is said to earn a basic salary of around £120,000 a week, with bonuses and appearance fees in the £150,000 range. For United’s number one goalkeeper, it is a substantial drop from De Gea’s wages – the Spaniard earned in the region of £375,000 a week during his last contract.
The deal is structured in a similar fashion to Lisandro Martinez and Antony, who both arrived last summer, and is set to rise to £200,000 a week as the deal progresses. Manchester United have been aware of the wage cuts they offer even to first-team players in recent transfer windows, with the existing contracts for Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka so big for Manchester United that it is difficult to move players on.
Onana has been established as Manchester United’s top priority in goal in recent weeks after the club moved away from extending De Gea’s contract due to a drop in performances in the final months of last season. The Hag stands behind the decision and wants Manchester United to improve their ability to distribute from the keeper – a key trait in Onana’s game.
United are also looking for a second goalkeeper to act as Onan’s replacement.
Reaching a deal for Onan opens the door for Dean Henderson to move to Nottingham Forest in a deal worth around £20m. Tom Heaton is also attracting interest from Everton and Luton Town.
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