Indonesia
South Africa

Man United 'very interested' in £25m-rated goalkeeper who could replace Andre Onana

sportsmole.co.uk, 11 September 2024, 15:54
Manchester United reportedly have a strong interest in Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Unai Simon, with the Spaniard viewed as a potential replacement for Andre Onana.

The Red Devils signed Onana from Inter Milan in the summer of 2023, and the Cameroonian has made 55 appearances for the 20-time English champions in all competitions.

Onana has found it difficult to show his best form for Man United, though, conceding 89 times and keeping only 14 clean sheets, and another tough season for the 28-year-old would leave the English outfit with a big decision to make when it comes to their goalkeeping position.

Altay Bayindir also arrived last summer, but the Turkey international is viewed by the club as a number two, meaning that an exit for Onana would almost certainly see the Red Devils enter the market for a replacement.

According to Fichajes, Man United are 'very interested' in Simon, with Erik ten Hag's side huge admirers of Spain's Euro 2024-winning goalkeeper.

Man United 'keen' on move for Spain goalkeeper Simon

The report claims that the Red Devils are prepared to pay 'a considerable sum' to bring in Simon, who has been in the Athletic first team since 2018, making 195 appearances for the club in all competitions.

The goalkeeper is also first choice for Spain, earning 46 caps, including six appearances at Euro 2024, but he missed his country's two September internationals due to a wrist problem.

Simon, who is valued at £25m by transfermarkt, has a contract with the Lions until June 2029, but the 27-year-old could potentially earn himself a big-money transfer next year.

Will Man United replace Onana with Simon?

It would be a big surprise if Onana lost his spot as number one under Ten Hag, but if there is a change of manager at Old Trafford, then the stopper's future would be called into question.

Onana made some big mistakes during his first season at Man United, including in the Champions League, and he has also been criticised for his displays in the early stages of this term.

The Red Devils need the best in class if they are to return to the top of English and European football, and Onana's suitability for the club continues to be called into question.

Much will depend on how the season progresses, as the Cameroonian certainly has the capabilities of enjoying an excellent campaign, but a poor season would lead to questions being asked.

Simon is undoubtedly currently one of the leading stoppers in world football, and it would not be a surprise to see him leave Athletic for one of the world's biggest clubs next year.

Top News

5 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Kasimpasa vs. Gaziantep (Sunday, 10.30am) Kasimpasa will look to add more wins to their current unbeaten run when they host Gaziantep at Recep Tayyip Erdogan Stadyumu on Sunday. 5 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Santa Clara vs. Farense (Sunday, 3.30pm) High-flying Santa Clara welcome relegation-threatened SC Farense in gameweek 17 of the 2024-25 Primeira Liga season on Sunday at the Estadio de Sao Miguel. 5 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Monza vs. Cagliari (Sunday, 11.30am) After both ended 2024 with four straight Serie A defeats, relegation rivals Monza and Cagliari will vie for victory in their year-opening fixture on Sunday. 5 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Lens vs. Toulouse (Sunday, 2.00pm) Two sides in the hunt for a place in Europe next season resume their Ligue 1 campaigns on Sunday as Lens host Toulouse at Stade Bollaert-Delelis. 5 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Hibernian vs. Rangers (Sunday, 12.00pm) Rangers will aim to build on their superb 3-0 victory in the Old Firm Derby as they head to Easter Road Stadium on Sunday to face an in-form Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership. 5 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have agreed to recall Stefan Bajcetic from his loan at Red Bull Salzburg and send him back out in January, with Real Betis heavily linked to the midfielder. 5 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Queens Park Rangers will look to claim a second straight victory when they welcome Luton Town to Loftus Road for Monday's Championship clash. 4 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool's pursuit of left-back Julio Soler appears to have ended in failure, with Bournemouth reportedly in advanced talks with Argentine club Lanus for his signature this winter. 4 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have reportedly tabled an enormous £78m contract to Trent Alexander-Arnold in an attempt to stop the defender joining Real Madrid for free in the summer. 4 January 2025 talksport.com Matheus Cunha is set to sign a new long-term contract at Wolves, talkSPORT understands. 4 January 2025 talksport.com Tottenham and Newcastle kicked off a thrilling day of Premier League action, but Brentford and Bournemouth did their best to steal the headlines. 4 January 2025 talksport.com Arsenal are facing another injury scare after Ethan Nwaneri was brought off at half-time against Brighton. 4 January 2025 talksport.com Arsenal were pegged back in their quest to catch up with Premier League leaders Liverpool following a 1-1 draw at Brighton. 4 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that he was forced to bring Ethan Nwaneri off at half time in their 1-1 Premier League draw with Brighton & Hove Albion due to injury. 4 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool could make a statement to the rest of the Premier League should they heavily beat Ruben Amorim's deflated Manchester United side, according to Reds experts David Lynch. 4 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona eased their way into the last-16 stage of the Copa del Rey on Saturday evening courtesy of a 4-0 success over fourth-tier outfit Barbastro at Estadio Municipal de Deportes de Barbastro. 4 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal missed the chance to move to within three points of Premier League leaders Liverpool as a spirited Brighton & Hove Albion held them to a 1-1 draw at the Amex Stadium. 4 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City defender Issa Kabore is reportedly on the verge of joining a Bundesliga club on loan for the rest of the season. 4 January 2025 talksport.com Ethan Nwaneri has joined an exclusive club with his latest Arsenal goal. 4 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Pep Guardiola has set a new Premier League managerial record after his Manchester City side battled to a 4-1 win over West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday. 4 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal phenom Ethan Nwaneri has written a new page of Gunners history thanks to his opening goal in the Gunners' Premier League clash with Brighton & Hove Albion. 4 January 2025 talksport.com Liverpool are set to recall Stefan Bajcetic from his loan at Red Bull Salzburg. 4 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have reportedly suffered a setback in their attempts to sign Randal Kolo Muani from Paris Saint-Germain, who could instead be part of a sensational swap deal with an Aston Villa striker. 4 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Brighton & Hove Albion have reportedly made a £23m offer for Palmeiras defender Vitor Reis, with the Seagulls looking to beat a number of major clubs to the teenager's signature. 4 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly running the rule over teenage Sheffield United striker Ryan One amid continued uncertainty over the future of Darwin Nunez. 4 January 2025 talksport.com Mikel Arteta has explained why Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli are not in his Arsenal starting XI against Brighton. 4 January 2025 talksport.com Erling Haaland has extended his stunning scoring record against West Ham. 4 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Andoni Iraola's Bournemouth emerged as 1-0 victors against Sean Dyche's Everton at home on Saturday afternoon in their first Premier League game of 2025, and continued their push for European football. 4 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Aston Villa returned to winning ways in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon, with Unai Emery's side battling their way to a 2-1 home success over relegation-threatened Leicester City. 4 January 2025 talksport.com Manchester United's tough run of fixtures continues this weekend as they travel to take on table toppers, Liverpool.