Ten Hag in dreamland with next Man Utd transfer ‘practically done’; star to fly in to seal €52m move ‘today or tomorrow’

Manchester United can finally expect to seal the signing of Andre Onana in the next 48 hours, if the latest reports in Italy are proved correct.

The Red Devils are in the market for a top-class replacement for David De Gea after the long-serving Spaniard’s exit this summer. The keeper – the last remaining player brought in during the Sir Alex Ferguson era – leaves Old Trafford after 12 seasons.

Ranked third behind Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes on their all-time Premier League appearance makers, De Gea will leave the club as one of their best overseas imports.

However, the role of a goalkeeper has evolved in recent seasons. And Erik ten Hag wants to bring in a goalkeeper, who not only is capable of brilliant saves, but one is who is also highly adept with the ball at his feet.

To that end, the likes of Alisson Becker, Ederson, David Raya and Jordan Pickford are masters of their craft.

Now Ten Hag is honing in on a move for one of the world’s best in Onana.

And while Inter have shown willingness to sell, striking a deal has not proved easy.

Indeed, they are pretty much remain unmoved from their €55m valuation of the star.

United’s initial €40m (£34.3m) offer Onana was quickly waved off by Inter.

And with talks since resuming, on Thursday it was claimed the deal was reaching a critical juncture. Furthermore, Ten Hag also made a surprise admission about a possible back-up plan were a move for Onana to fail.

However, it now seems an agreement is as good as done, per reports in Italy.

READ MORE: The 10 most expensive goalkeeper transfers of all time: Onana to come in at No 3

Final Andre Onana fee to Man Utd is revealed

And il Gazzetta dello Sport now claims there is nothing to stop the deal being completed.

They claim that, following talks, United are now just €2m – €3m (£1.7m – £2.5m) away from reaching official agreement on the deal.

As such, Ten Hag – who worked with Onana previously at Ajax – has reportedly phoned the keeper to reassure him he’ll be a United star ‘in record time’.

Describing the deal as ‘practially concluded’, il Gazzetta believe the final fee will be settled at around €52m (£44.7m). That is believed to be Inter’s bottom line; a fee United are now happy to meet.

As a result, Onana is expected to fly into the UK either ‘today or tomorrow’ to put the finishing touches to the move.

The Cameroon keeper will put pen to paper on a five-year deal at Old Trafford, ‘more than doubling’ his salary in the process.

Reports recently claimed United already have the No 1 shirt reserved for him.

Il Gazzetta also claims Onana returned to training with Inter on Friday. However, the move was more about ’emptying his locker’ and bidding farewell to his teammates.

Deal for Onana likely to go through on Monday

Il Corriere dello Sport, meanwhile, describes the move for Onana as now entering the ‘hottest 48 hours’ yet. And their belief is that a deal for the 27-year-old will be agreed on Monday, or potentially even on Sunday.

Either way, there is a growing belief an announcement is imminent to take Onana to Old Trafford. He will leave Inter Milan, having made 41 appearances for the club.

Inter see his sale as good business having landed him on a free transfer last summer.

And the Nerazzurri plan to use funds from his sale to sign both Anatoliy Trubin and Yann Sommer. Inter have also parted company with legendary keeper Samir Handanovic. The 39-year-old Slovenian has been with Inter since summer 2012, making 455 appearances for the club.

READ MORE: Man Utd ‘seduce’ defender to quit Real Madrid in €40m move as Ten Hag eyes dream Maguire upgrade