The loss of Man United target Andre Onana could come as a significant blow to Inter Milan, even for a massive fee.
This is the view in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Corriere della Sera, via FCInterNews. The newspaper react to recent reports that the Nerazzurri could be willing to consider offers for the Cameroonian as United take interest.
Premier League giants Manchester United are reportedly thinking about reigniting their pursuit of Inter keeper Onana.
It would take a significant offer to turn the Nerazzurri’s head.
The Cameroonian may have only joined Inter from Ajax on a free transfer over the summer. However, his performances in his first campaign fro the Nerazzurri have really caught the eye.
This puts Inter in something of a bind. They’re waiting to see how serious United are about signing Onana.
If the Red Devils do decide to make a huge cash offer, it would be hard for the Nerazzurri to turn down. Even if the need for a net profit from the market is not there like in previous summers, Inter are still looking to bring in cash to fund other signings.
What Losing Man United Target Onana Could Mean To Inter
On the other hand, Inter know that the size of any United offer would reflect just how good Onana is. They would have to sacrifice a hugely important player if they decide to accept a bid.
The Corriere della Sera highlight a glaring statistic that shows how important Onana has been to Inter this season.
Per the Expected Goals model, Onana conceded 7.6 fewer goals than would have been expected in the Champions League.
Whilst this is hardly a perfect metric, it does give a strong indication to how important Onana was in Europe. The Cameroonian’s heroics undeniably prevented a number of goals going in compared to the average keeper.
This was vital to Inter’s run of clean sheets throughout the knockout stages. It did not take any statistical analysis to see how key some of Onana’s excellent saves were.
Meanwhile, Onana does more than just make saves.
The 27-year-old has won renown for his ability and confidence with the ball at his feet. This has added a new dimension to Inter’s play.
The Nerazzurri have been aggressive and proactive playing the ball out from the back with Onana in the team.
There are big question marks around whether any potential replacements would be able to replicate this aspect.