Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim reportedly decided that a new goalkeeper was needed at Old Trafford just two months into his reign. It’s understood that Andre Onana, who was signed from Inter Milan in the summer of 2023 for £47million, has failed to impress with his performances between the sticks.
In addition to a new shot-stopper, a striker is also said to be high on the agenda for United’s summer transfer plans. This comes as both Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have not lived up to expectations. The Red Devils’ lacklustre performances this season is evident in their goal tally, having scored only 38 goals in 33 Premier League matches, resulting in a negative goal difference of -8. Liam Delap, Ipswich Town’s top scorer with 12 league goals this season, is being eyed as a potential addition to the squad. Nevertheless, reports understand that Amorim knows where he wants to improve.
The size of United’s summer budget will be uncertain until it becomes clear whether they will qualify for the Champions League. The Red Devils’ only route back into Europe’s elite competition is by winning the Europa League, where they face Athletic Bilbao in the semi-finals. Despite the potential budget constraints, the club is determined to adopt a more disciplined approach to transfers, following years of wasteful spending.
In their inaugural summer under the joint ownership of Ineos last year, United refrained from splashing out more than £60m on a single signing. The mid-season purchases of Patrick Dorgu and Ayden Heaven were also budget-friendly. It’s anticipated that United would need to offload Hojlund, Zirkzee and Onana, who are collectively valued at around £95m, to generate funds for the transfer market. A number of elite clubs are on the hunt for a prolific striker this summer.
Sporting’s Viktor Gyokeres, who has previously worked with the current United manager, has a release clause surpassing £60m. United have also maintained contact with the representative of Benjamin Sesko, the RB Leipzig forward who rejected a move to Old Trafford in the summer of 2022, while Victor Osimhen, who was on United’s radar during Napoli’s championship-winning 2022-23 season, has scored an impressive 29 goals in 34 matches while on loan at Galatasaray.
Napoli will likely be forced to sell Osimhen, 26, this summer as his contract is set to expire next year, but it remains unclear whether United would have the financial resources to secure a deal. Furthermore, the Manchester Evening News reports that United have been preparing for a new goalkeeper for several months, after Amorim decided he lacks confidence in Onana.
United’s second-choice goalkeeper, Altay Bayindir, is also expected to consider a move away from Old Trafford to increase his chances of becoming Turkey’s first-choice keeper at the World Cup next year. Despite changing agencies to Lian Sports Group two months ago and a series of high-profile blunders this season, Onana remains committed to his future at United.
The Red Devils would need to fetch £28.32m for Onana, who they signed for £47.2m on a five-year deal in 2023. A player’s transfer fee is spread over the length of their contract, with their value determined by the remaining time on their agreement.
Should United decide to offload Hojlund, who has found goals hard to come by since joining alongside Onana, he would command a price tag of £38.4m. Zirkzee, who is sidelined for the rest of the season, only has seven goals to his name and is estimated to be worth £29.2m. Both Onana and Hojlund were signings closely linked with former manager Erik ten Hag.
The Dutchman, who previously managed Onana at Ajax, played a key role in bringing the Cameroonian to Manchester. Hojlund, on the other hand, joined the SEG International agency, which represents Ten Hag, just prior to his switch to United.
