TWIST in Man Utd keeper search as Chelsea make SURPRISE Onana decision

Robin Bairner

• 17 Jun 2023 12:44 BST
• 3 min read

Manchester United’s chase for a No.1 goalkeeper is set to step up, with two signs that Erik ten Hag will be in the market for a goalkeeper imminently.

The future of David de Gea has been questionable for some months now but the expectation had been that he would sign a new contract with the Old Trafford side, who do not need the headache of finding a new shot-stopper to add to their problems this summer.

Nevertheless, when it was announced on Friday that no new deal had been agreed with the former Spain international, it sparked a flurry of speculation.

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The Mirror reports that De Gea is now going to leave Man Utd as a free agent at the end of his contract, leaving a void that Ten Hag must fill.

By loaning out Dean Henderson to Nottingham Forest last summer, the former Ajax boss demonstrated that he rates the England international lower than De Gea, so will logically be looking for a new No.1.

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Man Utd get clear run at Onana

United are widely reported to have formed a three-man shortlist to replace De Gea, with Jordan Pickford of Everton and Porto’s Diogo Costa on this list.

However, Andre Onana of Champions League finalists Inter currently looks the likeliest player to move to the Red Devils, with The Evening Standard reporting that Chelsea have pulled out of the running to sign the Cameroon international.

The Blues will instead focus their attentions on Valencia’s Giorgi Mamardashvili, Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel and Brentford’s David Raya as they seek a replacement for Edouard Mendy, who is set to leave Stamford Bridge.

Man Utd will, therefore, have a free run at Onana, who worked with Ten Hag at Ajax. With the takeover process clouding their transfer market performance, it remains to be seen if the manager can raise the €58.5 million (£50m) that Inter are demanding for their goalkeeper.