With the global financial crisis brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic hitting football, clubs have had to be creative in their thinking. The situation has come to a point where clubs have had to think outside the box to remain competitive. With the cost of player purchase, salaries and the general maintenance of a team rising every day, the need for a more practicable solution has surfaced.
The current trend is for clubs to go after players reaching the end of their contracts. Dissatisfied players have also found that as the right formula with several big-name players refusing to sign extensions to their contracts. A player in the last year of his contract or a free agent is more appealing. It also makes it easier for the player to move to another club.
Inter Milan are in the market for a young, top quality goalkeeper, and Andre Onana has caught the eyes of the Italian side. The Nerazzurri see in the Cameroonian anal replacement for the ageing goalkeeper Samir Handanović. It will not be easy snapping the goalkeeper who has also caught the attention of other clubs in Europe.
Competition for Onana
Andre Onana is a top-quality goalkeeper who has earned his spurs at Ajax Amsterdam. The Cameroonian goalkeeper who recently returned from a ban due to dope use is wanted at Inter Milan. The Nerazzurri are waiting for the player to see out his contract, which expires next summer. Despite a verbal agreement to join the Nerazzurri, the Italian outfit must fend off interest coming from Spain.
La Liga giants Barcelona have also indicated an interest in bringing the player who spent five years of his youth career at Barcelona back to the club. With Marc-André ter Stegen not particularly in super form, Barcelona hopes that competition for the goalkeeping role will help the team.
Inter may have stolen a march on Barcelona as they reportedly agreed with the shot-stopper to join the club when his contract expires in June 2022. Elsewhere, Arsenal remain interested in the player as well.
A plan in place
According to Calciomercato.com, Inter has reached an agreement over a four-year deal with the 25-year-old Cameroonian goalkeeper. With Samir Handanović advancing in age, Inter Milan believe that Onana can fill in his large boots adequately.
Journalist Fabrizio Romano also buttresses the reports making the rounds of a verbal agreement to bring the Cameroonian to Italy.
Onana has played 20 times for Cameroon and is in line to be in goal for the Indomitable Lions at the African Cup of Nations in January. He will arrive at his new club on a free transfer next summer. Onana has also played just one Champions League match for Ajax following his return from a doping ban.
By :
Steven D. Thompson
