Andre Onana may be about to benefit from Manchester United's tentative approach in the goalkeeper market. The Red Devils have been focused on attacking targets since the summer transfer window opened, with Matheus Cunha through the door and Bryan Mbeumo potentially the next in line.
It is understood that, if United are to strengthen between the sticks, it will be done once higher priority areas have been taken care of. But that approach threatens club chiefs with the prospect of missing out on prominent targets. Vanja Milinkovic-Savic is a goalkeeper with admirers at Old Trafford, and he is believed to be on their list of candidates should they opt to replace Onana.
United may soon pay for their lack of urgency, however, as Fabrizio Romano claims that Napoli are now in talks with Torino over a £15million deal for their giant stopper. Discussions are said to have taken place on Thursday as Gli Azzurri move to strike ahead of the Red Devils, and Milinkovic-Savic's other suitors.
The 28-year-old has been Torino's No. 1 for the past four seasons, racking up 144 games in Serie A and becoming one of the division's most dependable goalkeepers.
The longer United put their pursuit on hold, the higher the chances are of Onana retaining his spot for next season. The Cameroon international has come under heavy scrutiny since completing a £47m move from Inter Milan two years ago.
Onana has committed a catalogue of costly mistakes over the course of his United career, and his back-up, Altay Bayindir, has not been particularly convincing either. The pair are not out of the woods yet, however, as the Red Devils have been linked with other in-form keepers.
Aston Villa star Emi Martinez is widely tipped to make a move this summer, while Royal Antwerp youngster Senne Lammens is another player scouts have taken a liking to. United pursued Japanese international Zion Suzuki when he was at Urawa Red Diamonds, and their interest is likely to have remained as he continues to progress at Parma.
Onana may be on the brink but he hopes to be given the chance to learn from his mistakes. "Confidence is key, and confidence comes with victories," he said.
"When the team is winning, the confidence is high and you play with a big smile, things are in your favour. Me personally, I never lose, I win or I learn, so it was a learning time."