Manchester United
Premier League • England
Man Utd stun Leeds with talks over surprise next signing confirmed
Man Utd have held talks over signing a player Leeds Utd recently tabled a bid for, per reports.
The Red Devils recently unveiled Andre Onana following his initial £43.8m move from Inter Milan. The Cameroon ace, 27, will take David de Gea’s spot as the starting goalkeeper moving forward. De Gea’s contract lapsed on June 30 and the veteran Spaniard is now a free agent and hunting a new club.
The transfer headlines at Old Trafford will now turn to signing a top-class centre-forward. To that end, Fabrizio Romano confirmed on Monday afternoon that Man Utd are primed to lodge their first official bid for Atalanta’s Rasmus Hojlund.
However, with the Telegraph reporting Man Utd’s ‘firm ceiling’ is £60m, there is a valuation gap regarding the player.
With that move potentially set to drag on, Man Utd’s next first-team signing may in fact come between the sticks.
Despite landing Onana, Erik ten Hag’s side are expected to conduct plenty more business in the goalkeeping department.
Regarding exits, Dean Henderson is wanted back at Nottingham Forest who are exploring either permanent or loan-to-buy deals.
Elsewhere, Tom Heaton is being courted by Luton Town. Ten Hag previously rejected an approach from the newly-promoted side, though the story may be different if Man Utd land one – or even two – back-ups to Onana.
Zion Suzuki of Urawa Red Diamonds is known to be on United’s radar. However, according to the Daily Mail, so too is Turkey international, Altay Bayindir.
The 25-year-old plies his trade at club level for Fenerbahce, though could soon be on the move.
Man Utd could hijack Leeds deal
Indeed, reports recently emerged of Leeds Utd bidding €5m (£4.3m) for the 6ft 6in stopper. Leeds reportedly view Bayindir as a replacement for the error-prone Illan Meslier who could leave for around £10m.
But per the Mail, Man Utd could torpedo Leeds’ plans after their staff ‘held talks’ over signing Bayindir.
The goalkeeper has a release clause in his Fenerbahce contract that’s understood to be worth around €7m (approx. £6m).
However, the Mail suggest Man Utd could seal a deal for £5m and would presumably be banking on the lure of playing for the Red Devils proving too strong to resist.
Aside from Leeds, it’s claimed Dutch giant Ajax are also showing interest in Bayindir. As such, whether he’d greenlight a move to Old Trafford would hinge on whether he’s willing to accept a back-up role.
Onana will unquestionably be the No 1 moving forwards. Alternatively, Bayindir could become the regular starter in Amsterdam, though would earn a much lower wage there when compared to Manchester.
The Mail also note Zion Suzuki in their report and suggest both he and Bayindir could be signed.
That would only be required if both Henderson and Heaton leave.
READ MORE: Big Man Utd bid ‘coming’, as Fabrizio Romano confirms Ten Hag has chosen superstar striker