Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier has reportedly ‘grabbed the attention’ of Manchester United, who are debating whether to pursue an Andre Onana upgrade this summer.
Ex-Ajax goalkeeper Onana was brought to Old Trafford to reunite with Erik ten Hag in 2023, but his time in Manchester has been marred by a series of high-profile mistakes.
The Cameroon international has nevertheless received the public backing of new boss Ruben Amorim, but his shaky displays have contributed to Man United’s unacceptable 15th-placed ranking in the Premier League table.
Further down the goalkeeping pecking order, Onana’s number two Altay Bayindir has done little to suggest that he could take on number one duties next season, while the veteran Tom Heaton could leave at the expiration of his contract this summer.
As a result, Theatre of Dreams chiefs are expected to upgrade the club’s goalkeeping department this summer, and according to GIVEMESPORT, Lille and France shot-stopper Chevalier has piqued their interest.
Man United ‘quoted £34m’ for Chevalier deal
The 23-year-old had some incredibly big gloves to fill at Lille, taking over as Mike Maignan‘s permanent successor after neither Ivo Grbic nor Leo Jardim managed to fill the void successfully.
Chevalier has been Les Dogues’ undisputed number one for the past three seasons and has now kept 42 clean sheets in 119 appearances for the club, form that caught the eye of France boss Didier Deschamps.
The 2001-born goalkeeper earned his first senior Bleus call-up in November, and he has been included in the France squad for their upcoming UEFA Nations League quarter-final double-header with Croatia too.
However, Chevalier is set to enter the final two years of his Lille contract this summer, and the report claims that he is ‘firmly’ on Amorim’s radar for a summer transfer, but they are not alone in their pursuit.
Chelsea are also rumoured to be making checks on the Frenchman, who was also being watched by Barcelona and Manchester City during the most recent transfer window over the winter.
La Blaugrana and the Premier League champions were supposedly quoted £34m to sign Chevalier in January, though, and Lille are expected to stand firm on that price despite his contract situation.
Which other Onana replacements are Man United targeting?
Man United have apparently not made a final decision on whether to formalise their interest in Chevalier, who is believed to be just one of a handful of goalkeepers on the radar of club chiefs.
Espanyol’s Joan Garcia is also said to have caught the attention of the powers-that-be in Manchester, although one of the Red Devils’ Premier League rivals is understood to be leading the chase for the Spaniard.
Should the Garcia move not work out, Man United could supposedly try to hijack Newcastle United’s proposed move for Burnley’s James Trafford, who has kept a ridiculous 26 clean sheets in 37 Championship matches this season.
Blackburn Rovers’ Aynsley Pears is another second-tier goalkeeper to be linked with the Red Devils, and the 26-year-old already possesses a connection to the club, as his father Stephen Pears played for Man United first team between 1979 and 1985.
