Man Utd sweat on Real Madrid star as agent 'considers proposals'

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 26 Apr 2024 03:11 CDT
• 3 min read

Manchester United are one of three clubs attempting to complete a transfer deal for Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, according to reports from Spain.

Lunin has enjoyed an excellent season with Los Blancos, during which he surprisingly became the club’s first-choice goalkeeper. Thibaut Courtois was struck down by serious injury and has only recently returned to training, while the former Zorya Luhansk keeper outcompeted Kepa Arrizabalaga, who arrived on loan from Chelsea.

The stock of the Ukraine international has never been higher, yet he finds himself at a crossroads in his career.

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Courtois’ return is likely to see him drop back to second choice, receiving few minutes, and with just a year left to run on his contract, this could be the ideal opportunity to complete a transfer.

Man Utd are among three major clubs monitoring his situation.

“Lunin is a player whose contract ends next year and the normal thing is that Real Madrid want him to continue,” journalist Eduardo Inda told El Chiringuito.

“He is thinking of leaving this year or next year as a free agent if he is not a starter.

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“He has three offers. One from PSG, but there is Gianluigi Donnarumma, another from Manchester United and a third from Bayern Munich.”

OK Diario indicates that Real Madrid will likely be open to any transfer: “Los Blancos would surely complete a deal because the Ukrainian cost €8.5 million in the summer of 2018 and six years later Real Madrid could multiply what they paid by three or four times.”

Doubts over Onana remain

Man Utd likely have one eye on the goalkeeping market given Andre Onana’s mixed performances this season, yet the Cameroon international, who arrived from Inter Milan last summer for €50m, has grown into the role.

The mistakes that characterised the early part of his career at Old Trafford may not have been cut out entirely, but they have at least been reduced.

Nevertheless, if Lunin was to become available for something in the region of €35m, Man Utd would have to consider the possibility of a deal.