£34m "world-class" star now wants to join Man Utd after snubbing move to UCL club - report
Manchester United are planning to make multiple signings during the summer transfer window.
The primary focus is on the attack, having scored only 44 goals from 38 league games last term.
However, the club could also bolster other positions, and TyC Sports claim that they are interested in signing Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
Galatasaray are also keen on landing the World Cup winner, but the 32-year-old does not have any desire to consider a move to the Turkish Super Lig.
Bolavip add that Martinez is ‘waiting for Manchester United’ despite having the opportunity to play Champions League football with Galatasaray next term.
United are the main option for the Argentina international, but they are ‘holding back’ for now as they have not yet sold first-choice goalkeeper Andre Onana.
Martinez only signed a new long-term contract last summer. Unai Emery’s side are expected to demand £30-34 million to part ways with the shot-stopper described as ‘world-class‘ by iNews.
United unlikely to move for Martinez unless Onana departs
Onana has been United’s undisputed first-choice goalkeeper since he arrived from Inter Milan two years ago. The Cameroonian has been vulnerable between the sticks.
He has made 12 errors leading to shots with eight of those leading to goals. No other Premier League goalkeeper has managed more since Onana’s arrival at United.
Manager Ruben Amorim may want a new shot-stopper at the helm, but the hierarchy are unlikely to spend on one unless they can recoup funds from Onana’s departure.
The 29-year-old was on the radar of Saudi Pro League clubs earlier this year, but there has been no offer on the table for the goalkeeper, who cost £47.2 million in 2023.
If Onana were to leave, we are still not convinced that Martinez would be an upgrade. He is not the best at passing from the back and has been prone to making errors too.
His biggest howler came at Old Trafford last month. His early sending-off pretty much ended Villa’s prospects of beating United to qualify for the Champions League.
If United want to sign a new goalkeeper, they should pursue a deal for Royal Antwerp’s Senne Lammens.
The Belgian sensation made an impressive 4.3 saves per league game last season with a success rate of 77 percent.
In comparison, Onana made only 2.6 saves on average, with a success rate of 67 percent.
Lammens also completed 71 percent of his passes with 7.4 long balls. He is a penalty-saving specialist, having saved four out of eight spot-kicks against him last season.
The 22-year-old would be a fabulous signing for a reported fee of £30m.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com & Sofascore.com
Article written by Sri Aswin .