Erik ten Hag risks being rejected by Kevin Trapp once again after targeting the Eintracht Frankfurt goalkeeper as a result of Manchester United 's transfer struggles.
The Red Devils were in talks to sign Andre Onana and hoped that he'd be their new No.1 goalkeeper, but Mirror Football understands that due to Inter Milan's £60million asking price, United chiefs are unable to complete the deal as things stand. Ten Hag has a budget of £120m and after agreeing a £55m deal to sign Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount, leaves himself short for other areas.
A striker and a defender are positions which the Red Devils boss also wants to recruit for this summer, while a new goalkeeper will be needed should current first-choice shot-stopper David de Gea fail to sign a new contract. United remain in talks with De Gea, 32, over extending his 12-year stay at Old Trafford after his previous deal expired on Friday and he became a free agent.
That's where Trapp comes in, as the German joins Netherlands international Justin Bijlow of Feyenoord on Ten Hag's revised shortlist. Although it's understood that Eintracht would be willing to sell their 32-year-old stalwart for just £10m, half of what Feyenoord are demanding for Bijlow, Trapp has already rejected Ten Hag once in the past 12 months.
The former Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper, who's been capped seven times at international level with Germany, confirmed interest from Old Trafford last summer but chose to remain in Frankfurt, later signing a new deal which runs until June 2026. "Dear fans, there has been a lot of talk about Manchester United's interest in recent days," Trapp wrote on Instagram.
"It is true that there is a written offer. Manchester United is a global club and I hope everyone can understand that I am considering and thinking about an offer like this. Yesterday, however, I informed those responsible at both clubs that I had decided on Eintracht," he confirmed.
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Trapp's decision to keep playing regular football in the Bundesliga came while Ten Hag was searching for a No.2 goalkeeper who could challenge De Gea, having loaned out Dean Henderson to Nottingham Forest for the season. Although Henderson has now returned to his parent club, the Red Devils academy graduate hopes to join Forest on a permanent basis.
With De Gea's future uncertain, the Red Devils are scrambling for a solution between the posts. The Spaniard, who signed for United in 2011 from Atletico Madrid, agreed to take a pay cut and sign a contract extension earlier this year, but club officials later withdrew the offer, wanting him to reduce his £375,000-a-week wage even further.
Despite the Red Devils being on course for record revenue for 2023, UEFA's FFP regulations are making their transfer window difficult. United, who notably remain up for sale, overspent last summer following a nightmare start to the 2022-23 campaign and Ten Hag's tenure; with £70m midfield general Casemiro and £85m winger Antony both being brought in after United suffered back-to-back defeats in their first two Premier League games.
