Manchester United are reportedly planning to make a €40 million bid to sign Real Madrid's Ukrainian goalkeeper Andriy Lunin in the summer, reports said. Those calling shots at Old Trafford are growing tired of Andre Onana's inconsistency in front of the goal and will try to get the Champions League winner to replace the Cameroonian international, they claimed.
Onana, 28, arrived from Inter Milan because former United manager Erik ten Hag wanted a ball-playing goalkeeper to replace David De Gea. The Spanish shot-stopper, a club legend, thus left United unceremoniously. De Gea remained clubless for a season before joining Fiorentina in the Serie A where he has come up with a string of stellar performances. Onana, meanwhile, has had both good and bad days since his arrival in the summer of 2023.
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Critics joke that United is using a midfielder as their first-choice goalkeeper -- hinting at the basic mistakes Onana often makes often despite having the capability to distribute the ball to his teammates. Ruben Amorim is also interested in Espanyol's Joan Garcia, but according to Fichajes, Real Madrid's Lunin has emerged as a new frontrunner to land a United contract.
At 26, the 1.91 m tall Real Madrid custodian has delivered whenever he was given the opportunity. He played a pivotal role for Los Blancos after Thibaut Courtois suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during a training session that sidelined him for several months. Shortly upon his return, Courtois suffered another injury setback, effectively ruling him out for the majority of the season.
Real Madrid brought in Kepa Arrizabalaga on loan from Chelsea as cover but needed Lunin at times. During the Champions League quarter-final against Manchester City, Lunin saved two penalties in the shootout that ensured Real's advance in the tournament. Lunin even equalled Courtois' record by making nine saves in a single match, winning the hearts of fans and team management alike. Soon, he cemented his place over Kepa, whose loan deal was not refreshed.
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However, the presence of the towering Belgian at the club means Lunin is unlikely to get regular game time for the best part of his prime years. Thus, even a section of Madridistas thinks he should make a switch as a first-choice keeper despite having signed a new deal in 2024 that would keep him at Madrid until 2030. Manchester United and Real Madrid are on good terms, having a history of several terrific trades between them including Casemiro, Angel Di María Raphael Varane Ruud van Nistelrooy David Beckham and most iconically Cristiano Ronaldo.