By: Lorenzo Lepore and Nima Tavallaey Roodsari
Chelsea currently lead Manchester United and Barcelona in the race to sign Inter Milan goalkeeper André Onana, SempreInter.com have learned.
Currently the Blues are the club that has shown the most interest in the Cameroonian goalkeeper, leading fellow Premier League outfit Manchester United as well as La Liga giants Barcelona in the race to sign him.
However, a deal is far from being agreed as things stand with Inter having made it clear to Chelsea that they expect nothing less than at least €40 million in cash.
Furthermore, the Nerazzurri have also made it clear that they will not accept Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga or Senegal international Edouard Mendy as part payment, SempreInter.com can report.
Manchester United Keen On Onana
Former Ajax coach Erik ten Hag is keen on reuniting with Onana at Manchester United, having worked with the Cameroonian goalkeeper in Amsterdam for five seasons between 2017 and 2022, SempreInter.com have been told.
However, reports have emerged in recent days that United are close to agreeing a contract extension with Spanish goalkeeper David De Gea.
The former Ajax goalkeeper has in recent weeks been linked with Manchester United and Chelsea according to several reports in Italian media.
Inter could be tempted to let Onana go after just one season given that a big money offer would all be put down as capital gains in the Nerazzurri balance sheet given he signed for the club last summer on a free transfer.
… what’s my name? 🖤💙@AndreyOnana#ForzaInter #WelcomeAndré pic.twitter.com/8SpjL0SiF3
— Inter (@Inter) July 1, 2022
A Return To Barcelona?
Barcelona are also keen on André Onana, SempreInter.com have learned, but are yet to turn that interest into anything concrete as things stand right now.
Current Barca number one, Marc ter Stegen, signed a contract extension in 2020 that ties him to the Catalan outfit until the end of June 2025.
However, backup goalkeeper Iñaki Peña‘s contract is set to expire at the end of this season and recent reports in Spanish media suggest that he is yet to decide on pledging his future to the club.
Should André Onana make a switch to Barcelona it would be to become the first choice goalkeeper as he is not interested in playing second fiddle to the German shotstopper.
Onana started out in Inter Milan and Barcelona legend Samuel Eto’o’s academy before signing for Barcelona in 2010 at the age of 14.