Man Utd turn to dubious Brighton star after dream Ten Hag transfer crumbles

Man Utd chances of signing a player perfect for Erik ten Hag are fading despite speculation of an imminent bid, with a report revealing a cheaper alternative from Brighton is now being explored.

The main objectives at Old Trafford this summer are signing a new goalkeeper, central midfielder and centre-forward.

Mason Mount will tick the central midfield box after Man Utd agreed to pay Chelsea £55m plus £5m in add-ons. The 24-year-old has passed a medical and confirmed he’ll leave his boyhood club in an emotional post on Instagram.

According to ESPN, Mount forms one part of a dream triple coup for Ten Hag this summer. The others he’d dearly love to lure to Manchester are Andre Onana of Inter Milan and Tottenham talisman, Harry Kane.

Speculation United are finally ready to lodge an official bid for Onana are growing day by day. According to Sky in Italy, the wait will soon be over.

As cited by Sky Sports, Inter are ‘anticipating a first official bid from Manchester United for goalkeeper Andre Onana’.

However, per the report, there is a disconnect between Inter’s asking price and what Man Utd are prepared to pay.

Fabrizio Romano reported Inter will command at least €50m-€55m for the 27-year-old stopper. Without declaring how high United will go, Sky Sports concluded Inter’s valuation ‘could be a stretch’.

Reports have claimed United are working on a budget of just £120m this summer. With Mount hoovering up half of that already and strikers like Kane or Rasmus Hojlund not coming cheap, a compromise may have to be made between the sticks.

Feyenoord’s Justin Bijlow and Kevin Trapp of Eintracht Frankfurt are two keepers who’ve been linked. The common denominator there is they’d be far cheaper alternatives to Onana.

However, according to the Daily Mail, the more familiar face of Brighton’s Robert Sanchez is now being considered at Old Trafford.

Sanchez, 25, has been among the Premier League’s finest goalkeepers over the past three seasons. However, the Spaniard’s future at the AMEX was cast into doubt late last season.

Sanchez antics could concern Man Utd?

Indeed, manager Roberto De Zerbi opted to go with Jason Steele between the sticks – a decision that went down like a lead balloon with Sanchez.

The stopper asked to be overlooked for inclusion in several of Brighton’s matchday squads as the season drew to a close. De Zerbi pointed the finger of blame for the breakdown squarely at Sanchez.

“With Robert, we spoke before the Arsenal game and we decided together the best solution was to stay home,” said De Zerbi prior to their trip to Newcastle on May 18.

“He decides everything. Robert decides, and at the moment, it’s like this. He wanted it this way, not me, not the club”.

Brighton have since added to their goalkeeping ranks through the addition of Anderlecht’s Bart Verbruggen. Ironically enough, the Dutchman was also a target for Man Utd.

In any case, the Mail claim Sanchez has emerged as a target for United and the fact he’ll cost around £30m – roughly £20m less than Onana – will appeal.

What’s more, Sanchez is excellent in possession and has Premier League experience. One of the reasons Ten Hag was reluctant to hand De Gea a new deal was due to his limitations with the ball at feet.

De Gea’s contract with United expired on June 30.

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