Man Utd ‘close in’ on third signing as striker talks are revealed amid imminent Onana signing
Man Utd are edging closer to the signing of Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund, according to reports, amid Andre Onana’s imminent arrival.
The Red Devils have already signed Mason Mount from Chelsea this summer and are on the verge of landing Onana from Inter Milan in a deal worth €55m, according to Laurie Whitwell and Mario Cortegana in The Athletic.
But Man Utd are still missing a new striker, which has always been their top summer objective, with Erik ten Hag desperate to bring in a permanent replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo, who left the club back in November.
A controversial interview with Piers Morgan saw Ronaldo’s time at Old Trafford come to an end and Man Utd briefly stuck a plaster over his exit with the loan signing of Wout Weghorst.
But now Hojlund seems to have emerged as their main target to help take the goalscoring burden away from Marcus Rashford with the Denmark international impressing this season for club and country.
The Daily Mail‘s Chris Wheeler briefly touches on the Red Devils’ interest in Hojlund with the reporter claiming that Man Utd are ‘closing in on a deal’ for the 20-year-old.
Another report from the Daily Mail insists that Man Utd will ‘pick up talks’ over a deal for Hojlund ‘this week’ and now ‘have a little more in their budget to throw at the deal’ after picking up Onana for a good price.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano also had an update on a potential deal for Hojlund on his YouTube channel, he said: “It’s time to prepare the opening official bid for Rasmus Hojlund. Man Utd are discussing internally about the bid, and from what I’m told, Atalanta want something around €70m.”
Despite no official announcement, Romano has assured Man Utd supporters that a deal for Onana is “done” and he will become the club’s second signing of the summer.
Romano wrote in his Caught Offside column: “Andre Onana to Manchester United is done, there is a full agreement and now the clubs are just preparing all the paperwork. We’re just waiting for the contracts to be signed, but personal terms have been agreed, and were in fact agreed a long time ago.
“Sources feel it was really impossible for Onana to say no to Manchester United. Onana was very happy at Inter, he had a fantastic season there last term and was very happy with his teammates and life in the city, but when Erik ten Hag got in touch with him it was impossible for him to reject the chance to play for Manchester United, to play in the Premier League, and to play under a manager like Ten Hag who already knows his qualities well.
“It was the perfect match, and this is why he decided to accept a five-year contract with the option of one more year.
“It could still be a few more days before it’s announced and we officially see Onana in a Manchester United shirt, but the deal is agreed – Onana is going to Man Utd.
“I can also reveal that two other clubs were interested in Onana this summer. For United, it wasn’t always easy with the David de Gea situation, but in the end they decided to go very strongly for Onana because they feel he can be their goalkeeper now, and also for many, many years.
“It’s about present and future. This is why they also want to sign a talented second goalkeeper behind Onana. Zion Suzuki could be an option, because Dean Henderson is expected to join Nottingham Forest – it’s not 100% agreed, but a permanent transfer is being discussed.”
