Manchester United have reportedly put Man City’s “priority target” on the top of one of Rúben Amorim’s transfer shortlists this summer.
With Manchester United’s worst-ever Premier League season drawing to a close, the club’s attention is starting to shift towards the summer transfer window.
This will be manager Ruben Amorim’s first summer transfer window with United, and he will be looking to bring in players that fit his system and improve areas of weakness across the board.
One of the main areas that has been identified for improvement is United’s attack. The club have struggled to score goals in the Premier League and are looking to bring in players with league experience, such as Matheus Cunha, to rectify that.
Recent reports have suggested that Amorim is also unhappy with the goalkeeping situation at the club. Neither André Onana nor Altay Bayındır have impressed this season and it looks like the club is going to contest with one of their biggest rivals for a star replacement.
United looking to snatch Costa from Man City
Porto’s Diogo Costa has been a name linked with both United and Manchester City over recent seasons. Costa was heavily linked to United prior to the acquisition of Onana in the summer of 2023.
This season it has seemed like City were winning the race to sign Costa. A report from Foot Mertaco has stated that they had made him their “top priority” replacement for Ederson. The report also indicated that Costa currently has a £63.2 million release clause to get him out of Portugal.
But in a fresh twist, Stretty News have reported that Costa is also at the top of United’s list of potential replacements for first-choice keeper, Onana. Costa has impressed this season with 18 clean sheets in 42 appearances across all competitions, leading to United’s interest.
At this point in time, neither Manchester side has Champions League football confirmed for next season. City must to ensure a top 5 finish in the league and United need to beat Tottenham in the Europa League final to qualify.
It is likely that the team that makes the Champions League will be the most appealing destination for the Portuguese goalkeeper.
Costa amongst a growing list of names
Stretty News’ report has only added to the list of names that have been linked to the United goalkeeper position this summer. The other names mentioned as bieng on the list are Mike Maigan, Lucas Chevalier, Aaron Ramsdale, Zion Suzuki and Bart Verbruggen.
It was recently reported that Bayındır is “virtually certain to leave” Old Trafford this summer, with it being added the young Antwerp keeper, Senne Lammens, is on the list of potential summer signings. However, it was also stated that, if possible, United will avoid signing a direct replacement for Onana this window.
The other name that keeps being linked is Vanja Milinkovic-Savic. The Torino goalkeeper was formally at United but had to be let go due to a work permit issue.
The names mentioned feel like they can be split into two main camps: replacements for Onana and replacements for Bayındır. Costa, Ramsdale and Maigan are regarded as two of the best goalkeepers on the planet and signing them would have to be as a replacement for Onana as they would not come to a club to play second fiddle, especially if teams like City are interested like they are with Costa.
All of the other names mentioned across the two reports are players that could still be developing or act as a seasoned back-up much like Sergio Romero was under Jose Mourinho.
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