Manchester United are reportedly planning to make a €40m (£34m) move for Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin during this summer’s transfer window, with Andre Onana potentially being replaced between the sticks.
Onana has struggled to make his mark for the Red Devils since arriving from Inter Milan in the summer of 2023, with a number of solid performances being overshadowed by a series of mistakes.
The 28-year-old’s future at Old Trafford is being called into question, with Man United head coach Ruben Amorim said to be keen to bring a new number one to the club at the end of the 2024-25 campaign.
Espanyol‘s Joan Garcia has recently been linked with a move to Amorim’s side, but according to Fichajes, Real Madrid’s number two stopper Lunin has emerged as the English club’s leading target.
The report claims that Man United are willing to pay €40m (£34m) for the Ukraine international, who made 31 appearances for Real Madrid last season due to the absence of Thibaut Courtois.
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Man United ‘keen on £34m deal for Lunin’
Lunin has been forced to play second fiddle to Courtois this season, being restricted to just nine appearances for Carlo Ancelotti‘s side, but he proved during the 2023-24 campaign that he can be a top-level goalkeeper.
The Ukrainian signed a new deal with Real Madrid last September, with his current deal running until June 2030, but his desire to be a number one could lead to him leaving at the end of the campaign.
Lunin has 57 first-team appearances for Real Madrid to his name, winning two La Liga titles, the Copa del Rey and two Champions League trophies during a hugely successful spell.
The stopper will not play in La Liga or the Champions League again this season unless Courtois is unavailable, but he is featuring in the Copa del Rey for Ancelotti’s side, who are in the semi-finals.
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Amorim recently backed Onana amid Man United struggles
Man United head coach Amorim recently threw his support behind Onana amid the speculation surrounding the goalkeeping situation at Old Trafford.
“He did some great saves that save our team and sometimes have some problems – but that is normal. I think if you look at our team you can find a lot of players with that issue,” Amorim told reporters after the clash with Ipswich Town at the end of February.
“People talk about the second goal from Ipswich… he is waiting for the touch of [Liam] Delap. That can happen. We just have to support Andre. We need to forget about the past and prepare for the future.”
However, it is understood that Amorim does want a new goalkeeper, while two or potentially three could potentially be required this summer, as number three Tom Heaton is out of contract at the end of June; number two Altay Bayindir is also believed to be keen to move elsewhere to become first choice at another club.
Heaton and Bayindir have both recently been unable for selection, with academy goalkeepers therefore required to provide the back-up to Onana, which was again the case against Real Sociedad in the Europa League on Thursday night.
