There have been rumors that Manchester United would use Justin Bijlow as a potential £20 million to Andre Onana bargaining chip to get Inter Milan to scale back their demands, similar to how they used Moises Caicedo as a sort of “stalking horse” to land Chelsea’s Mason Mount.
After all, Inter needs the Andre Onana acquisition just as much as United does. The Nerazzuri’s greatest chance of raising the money necessary to finance a transaction that would allow Romelu Lukaku to remain at San Siro, according to Gazzetta dello Sport, is by selling the former Barcelona goalkeeper.
Furthermore, a deal to transfer Onana to Old Trafford for an initial £42 million would help alleviate Inter’s well-publicized financial problems, at least in part.
Manchester United is still optimistic about signing Andre Onana.
The Gazzetta dello Sport reports that there is still ‘optimism’ that United and Inter will finally reach an agreement. According to reports, Ten Hag has ‘reassured’ his former Ajax gloves man that United will do everything in their power to get him to England after having already ‘reached an agreement’ with regard to personal terms.
At United, the Cameroonian international is anticipated to earn almost £100,000 per week, more than doubling his current salary. That is around one-fourth of what David de Gea was making under his previous contract; on Saturday, the long-serving Spaniard became a free agent.
De Gea might yet return to United; talks between the two parties are still planned for the next few days (The Sun).
But be clear-eyed. If De Gea remains Manchester United’s starting goalkeeper for the upcoming campaign, it was a financial choice.
Ten Hag has been open about his wish to replace his current goalkeeper with one who is more assured handling the ball in his hands. And one of Europe’s best in possession is Onana.
“Very intensely to replace him.”
Inter wants an initial payment of £42 million, rising to $51 million, according to Gazzetta. A fair price for a young, developing shot-stopper, but one that would strain United’s already tight financial situation.
Former Inter midfielder Fausto Pizzi tells Tuttomercatoweb that Onana is ideal for this Inter.
Both his long and short passes are excellent. Losing him would be regrettable. I can see why it would be a ridiculous capital gain at the corporate level.
However, it will be exceedingly challenging to replace him.
Meanwhile, Riccardo Gentile, a correspondent with Sky Italia, thinks Inter will accept a proposal.
Inter is performing nicely. The capacity to go and grab him for free and sell him again at that price is the Onana operation’s positive signal. A bizarre market activity, indeed.
“To make ends meet, you can’t say no if an offer like that arrives. That is how it functions.
