Manchester United look increasingly likely to miss out on another key target as a Premier League rival tables an offer for French goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier, according to a report.
Chevalier, 23, has established himself as one of the best young shot stoppers in Europe this season with a series of impressive displays between the sticks for LOSC Lille.
The Ligue 1 side narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification after finishing level on points with OGC Nice – also owned by INEOS – but with a worse goal difference.
However, Lille boasted the second best defensive record in the league, only behind champions Paris Saint-Germain, with Chevalier’s commanding performances pivotal to this.
By contrast, the goalkeeper situation at Old Trafford is anything but commanding. Both of Ruben Amorim’s senior options – Andre Onana and back-up Altay Bayindir – have committed a series of high-profile mistakes for the Red Devils this season.
In an ideal world, the Portuguese coach would likely want to show both players the exit door with two new replacements arriving in their place.
Yet a new goalkeeper is not considered an urgent priority by United executives as the club focuses the bulk of its summer budget on reinforcements in the forward line.
As such, a ‘cheaper’ option for a new ‘keeper is being considered with United linked with moves for Joan Garcia (Espanyol) and Vanja Milinkovic-Savic (Torino).
But the Reds also hold a strong interest in Chevalier who would face little trouble in prising the number one shirt from either of the existing options at the club. Lille’s asking price – thought to be a minimum of €40 million – would present a problem, however.
The 23-year-old goalkeeper is also attracting serious interest from other clubs in Europe with both Aston Villa and Barcelona interested in signing him.
And Spanish outlet Fichajes now reveals the Villans have tabled a €40 million offer as they look to replace long-term stalwart Emiliano Martinez, who has himself been linked with a shock switch to Old Trafford.
Villa and Barcelona are also credited with interest in Espanyol’s number one, Garcia, with United officials reported to be considering a “late swoop” for the 24-year-old Spaniard after an impressive season in La Liga.
But it appears there are a limited number of talented shot stoppers on the market this summer. And there are more clubs on the hunt for a goalkeeper than there are goalkeepers available to buy.
If United do not act quickly and decisively, an excellent option like Chevalier or Garcia will be snapped up by a rival and Amorim will be left with the unthinkable situation of being forced to persist with Onana and Bayindir next season.
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Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
