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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Samuel Luckhurst

Manchester United open to signing two goalkeepers

Manchester United are open to signing two goalkeepers this summer if they do not re-sign David de Gea.

Inter Milan 'keeper Andre Onana is United's top target and they intend to recruit a back-up if they are unable to agree a renewal with De Gea, whose contract expired last week.

Any move for Onana is dependent on De Gea's situation as United want to hold face-to-face discussions after he has celebrated his wedding, which took place on Saturday.

Sources say there was a shift in United's position on De Gea, 32, towards the end of the season when he committed errors in the defeats to Sevilla, West Ham and Manchester City in the FA Cup final.

Also read: Mount will be compared to Ronaldo when United need another replacement

The MEN revealed in May there were doubts over De Gea's No.1 status at United next season and senior figures at the club want to move on from the Spaniard. United started exploring options to sign a new first-choice 'keeper last month.

United monitored Bart Verbruggen but he completed a £16.3million transfer to Brighton this week.

United are expected to sell Dean Henderson amid interest from Nottingham Forest, who are prepared to pay a fee of around £30million.

The Manchester Evening News revealed in May Henderson, 26, was informed of Forest's intention to buy him after they secured their Premier League survival.

Henderson is recovering from surgery on a thigh strain that has kept him sidelined since January. United's only fit senior goalkeeper due to be available for their first pre-season friendly against Leeds next week is Tom Heaton.

Last season, Martin Dubravka and Jack Butland joined United on loan. Dubravka played twice in the League Cup before he was recalled by Newcastle in January while Butland, a mid-season arrival from Crystal Palace, was on the bench for the FA Cup final.

In his final season with Ajax, United manager Erik ten Hag encountered goalkeeping issues when Onana was suspended for a doping ban, Maarten Stekelenburg sustained a long-term injury and the 38-year-old Remko Pasveer was drafted into the side.

"Last year, I had a situation with Ajax we had three goalies injured and you don't want to come to a situation that, when you come to the end of the season, you play for trophies and you have to put in a young keeper," Ten Hag said.

"You can't expect it from the young goalkeeper but you also kill your season. That's what you have to be prepared for."

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