Man United ‘eyeing up £30m move for Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen with Red Devils on the hunt for replacement for unsettled Andre Onana’
- Andre Onana has come under increasing pressure after a number of sloppy matches
- United are said to be scouting goalkeepers with two names on their shortlist
- LISTEN NOW: It all starts! New formation, some new faces, but the optimism is gone at Old Trafford
Manchester United are eyeing a transfer for Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, while Andre Onana is becoming increasingly restless, according to reports.
Onana moved to Old Trafford from Inter Milan in the summer of 2023 on a £47 million contract and reunited with his former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag.
But Ten Hag was fired in October and replaced by Ruben Amorim, and the Daily star have claimed that Onana is unhappy with life in Manchester.
The same outlet has also reported that the 28-year-old was already restless before Ten Hag’s dismissal, but the situation has deteriorated since Amorim’s arrival. As a result, United are said to be looking for replacements, with Verbruggen a target.
Verbruggen has become the first choice for Brighton, fending off competition from Jason Steele, and is also the number 1 for the Netherlands.
He was signed by the Seagulls in the same summer for a £16 million contract. Onana joined United with three years left on his current contract.
Manchester United are reportedly looking at Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen
United’s current number 1, Andre Onana, is said to be uneasy as United are looking for replacements
But Ruben Amorim’s attempts to overhaul his squad will be affected by United’s PSR problems
United would reportedly have to spend £30million to land the 22-year-old and a move is unlikely next month, meaning the Red Devils may have to wait until the summer.
Both Onana and understudy Altay Bayindir have been criticized after making glaring mistakes in recent weeks. United’s number two conceded directly from a corner in the Carabao Cup defeat to Tottenham, before Onana did the same at Wolves a week later.
The Amorim side has also been linked with Royal Antwerp’s Zenne Lammens.
Belgian international Lammens is the Belgian club’s first goalkeeper since he came from Club Brugge in 2023. He is believed to have attracted the attention of several top European clubs, including Borussia Dortmund and Leeds.
Earlier this week it was reported that United were sending scouts to watch him in action.
However, the club is hampered by the need to comply with the Premier League’s PSR rules and has little room to maneuver financially. Mailsport understands that Marcus Rashford will be released if they can find a suitor for the striker.
A loan agreement with a fee and a purchase obligation has also been proposed, but this will provide little relief for new entrants, leaving Amorim in a difficult position.
Overall, the majority of his players are on a price tag after their horror start to the season. United are fourteenth in the table and just eight points above the drop zone.
United are back in action on Monday evening when they host Newcastle United.
