Manchester United have met with Andre Onana's agent as they step up their pursuit of the Inter Milan keeper.
Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag is desperate to add to his options between the sticks, with David de Gea increasingly likely to leave Old Trafford. De Gea was United's first-choice keeper in the season just gone, but failed to convince Ten Hag he can be the long-term option.
That has led to the Dutchman making the position a priority in the summer transfer window. He has drawn up a shortlist of candidates for club chiefs to pursue, with Onana high up that shopping list.
The Cameroonian helped Inter to reach the final of the Champions League and impressed despite his side's defeat to Manchester City. His performance has attracted the eye of the Red Devils in their search for a new number one.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, United have met with Onana's agent Albert Botines in Manchester. Botines is in England to see if the Red Devils will present an offer to Inter for the 27-year-old.
While there is an offer on the table to De Gea, Ten Hag is keen for a keeper who is more comfortable at playing with his feet. Ten Hag previously coached Onana at Ajax and is hopeful of being reunited with him.
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Though Botines has travelled to Manchester for a meeting with club chiefs, there is a major obstacle to a deal being done. That obstacle is the price tag that Inter have slapped onto Onana.
The Serie A giants are looking for a fee in the region of £51million, with that being the lower end of their valuation. United though have only set aside £25m as the budget to sign a new keeper.
Instead, they are planning to spend the majority of their summer warchest on a new striker. But that could lead to them being forced to turn to alternative targets to Onana, with Inter set to hold firm on their valuation.
The Serie A giants do not want to let Onana go easily, with manager Simione Inzaghi having specifically requested the club do all it can to hang on to him. Inzaghi considers the Cameroonian to be a 'pillar' of his team.
Inter were lining up Guglielmo Vicario to replace Onana in the event he moved on, but the Empoli star is on his way to Tottenham instead. Chelsea have also been eyeing Onana as a potential make-weight in a deal sending Romelu Lukaku to Inter.
The Blues certainyl have the financial muscle to match Inter's valuation of Onana. All of which presents a problem for Ten Hag as he searches for his long-term first-choice keeper.
