Chelsea FC has turned down an opportunity to pen a contract with the Manchester United goalkeeper, Andre Onana with a potential move to the club when he was still plying his trade at Inter Milan.
Onana’s recent £44 million transfer to Manchester United has now been completed, with the Cameroonian shot-stopper set to replace David de Gea as the team’s goalkeeper.
Handpicked by Man United manager Erik ten Hag, the 27-year-old goalkeeper became the prime prospect to succeed De Gea, who bid farewell to Old Trafford as his contract concluded in the past month.
Right from the outset of their negotiations with Man United, Inter Milan had expressed their willingness to sell Onana, which significantly facilitated the process.
The Serie A club’s stance was driven by their priority to generate funds through player sales before making any new acquisitions, and the well-publicized feud with Chelsea regarding the bid for striker Romelu Lukaku added an additional layer of intricacy.
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While Inter Milan was prepared to sell Onana, they were displeased with Manchester United’s initial offer of roughly £32 million, and as a result, the bid was immediately rejected.
The Athletic reveals that Inter Milan’s intention to eventually sell Onana prompted them to bring Chelsea into the bidding struggle, aiming to escalate the price for the former Ajax star.
However, Chelsea decided against pursuing Onana and challenging Manchester United for his signature, primarily because of manager Mauricio Pochettino’s other summer plans and the club’s Financial Fair Play limitations.
Besides, Pochettino’s inclination towards a ‘modern’ goalkeeper was demonstrated through his sanctioning of Edouard Mendy’s transfer to Saudi Arabia, while continuing to favor Kepa Arrizabalaga as the primary option.