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Celtic are ready to open contract talks with two star players in the final weeks of the transfer window, according to reliable reporter Scott Burns.

What’s the latest Celtic news?

The Hoops and Brendan Rodgers have been busy so far in te transfer market this summer with seven new signings made. Maik Nawrocki, Gustaf Lagerbielke, Odin Thiago Holm, Hyun-jun Yang, Marco Tilio, Hyeok-kyu Kwon and Tomoki Iwata have all made the move to Glasgow on permanent deals at a total cost of around £14.5m.

The club are in profit thanks to Jota’s big-money move to Saudi Arabia, and further additions could be made before the end of the month. Recent reports have linked Celtic with two Premier League players in Wolves winger Daniel Podence and Tottenham’s Eric Dier, however, it looks as if the club’s priority is on extensions for current star players.

Two of those who appear to be part of Rodgers’ long-term plan are Liel Abada and Reo Hatate, with the pair’s current contracts set to expire in 2026.

Are Abada and Hatate staying at Celtic?

Burns shared a story for The Daily Record in the last 48 hours regarding Celtic and new deals for Abada and Hatate.

The reporter stated that Rodgers wants the pair to remain at Parkhead and that Hoops officials want to reward them with improved deals and to increase the length of their agreements and are aiming to get them finalised before the end of the transfer window.

This comes after Rodgers addressed Hatate’s situation after leaving him out of the opening games of the season.

"He (Hatate) has got three years left on his contract so there’s no rush. It’s a new cycle, a new manager and he has to prove himself. I’m not really worried about what’s said or not, I’ll play the team I see with the best energy, mentality and efficiency with how we want to work.

"There’s no doubt Reo is a talented player, but there are other talented players in the squad. If players aren’t playing, I’ve been open and honest with them about where we’re at, how I prepare a team, when I tell them the team, and when they’re not playing how they’ve got to respond."

Since arriving last year, the midfielder has made 68 appearances for the Hoops, scoring 13 times and providing 14 assists with his Transfermarkt valuation increasing to a career-high €11m.

Meanwhile, Abada has turned out on more than 100 occasions in Glasgow during his two-year stay, with his market value also at a career-high, showing the player’s worth in Scotland.

Abada has also been heavily linked with a Parkhead exit in 2023, with reports prior to the summer claiming that the winger had failed to agree to a new deal and that the Hoops were expecting the player to leave for up to £10m amid links to Southampton.

However, for both, it could be that they extend their respective deals over the coming weeks in what some may see as a surprise giving speculation during 2023, with talks set to get underway soon.

Manchester City have made a verbal offer of €80m to sign West Ham star Lucas Paqueta, according to journalist Santi Aouna.

Are Man City signing Lucas Paqueta?

City appear to be on the search for a new attacking addition to cap off their summer business following deals for midfielder Mateo Kovacic and defender Josko Gvardiol.

Riyad Mahrez has left the Etihad Stadium this summer with a move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli, leaving Pep Guardiola without a recognised right-winger ahead of the new Premier League campaign which bets underway on Friday evening against Vincent Kompany’s Burnley.

Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise and Rennes’ Jeremy Doku are two wingers who have been linked with a move to the Etihad, but Paqueta also appears to be on the club’s radar. Fabrizio Romano took to X earlier this week, claiming that Man City have a concrete interest in Paqueta and that talks have taken place.

“Manchester City have concrete interest in Lucas Paqueta. Talks took place with West Ham this week. Not an easy negotiation but City have added him to summer targets list.”

It now looks as of City have taken their interest to the next level by presenting an offer. Aouna took to X on Wednesday to share what he’s heard on Paqueta and a potential Man City move.

He said that the treble winners have made a verbal offer of €80m (£69m) for the player, who is keen to move to Manchester, however, West Ham appear to be holding out for a fee in the region of €90m (£77.6m).

“Manchester City has made a verbal offer of €80m for Paqueta, who is expecting €90m. Negotiations underway. The midfielder has already said YES to sign for the Citizens.”

Who is Lucas Paqueta?

Paqueta is primarily an attacking midfielder who can also play in a deeper role and appears to be at the peak of his powers with a career-high Transfermarkt €45m valuation.

The 25-year-old made the move to the London Stadium from Lyon last summer and prior to that, spent time with AC Milan and Flamengo. During his career, Paqueta has turned out as a right or left midfielder and even as a centre-forward on occasions, however, the majority of his appearances have come centrally as an attacking or box-to-box midfielder, so it would be interesting to see where Guardiola would want to use him, should a transfer materialise.

Former teammate Declan Rice, who was on City’s radar earlier in the window, praised the playmaker last season, saying:

“He’s incredible, honestly, he’s absolutely incredible. It’s obviously taken him a while to settle into the Premier League and into the training ground, moving his family over.

"I think now you’re seeing the real Lucas. Some of the stuff he does, even in training, it’s just mind-boggling how good he is.”

In his first season in England, Paqueta contributed to 12 goals and helped the Hammers win the Europa Conference League, and by the looks of it, a move to Manchester could be possible before the September 1 deadline, although City may need to increase their opening proposal.

Fulham target Fred's situation at Manchester United is 'one to watch' as his future at Old Trafford becomes increasingly uncertain, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

Where could Fred end up this summer?

According to The Daily Mail, Manchester United rejected an offer from Turkish giants Galatasaray earlier this window to sign Fred and it is 'unclear' whether a second bid will appear on the horizon.

Fulham boss Marco Silva is believed to be a big admirer of Fred and would like to bring him in at Craven Cottage, while clubs in the Saudi Pro League are also keen to secure his signature.

Last term, Fred made a whopping 56 appearances across all competitions for Manchester United, registering six goals and six assists, as per Transfermarkt.

Manchester United reportedly have set an asking price of £20 million for Brazil international Fred, something which Fulham aren't willing to comply with given that he is in the last year of his £120k-a-week contract at Old Trafford, according to The Mirror.

Fred missed the Red Devils' pre-season tour of the United States due to a 'personal issue' as speculation over his next steps continue to swirl.

Turkisk outlet Milliyet via Sport Witness has claimed that Fred has said 'yes' to a move to Galatasaray and Manchester United are now waiting to see if Galatasaray will sanction another offer for the experienced midfielder.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jacobs has indicated that Fred's situation could move quickly due to the volume of interest in his services from other clubs.

Jacobs told FFC: "I think that Fulham are still one to watch as well and Fred may lean towards staying in the Premier League if the right opportunity arises. I expect this one to move a little bit quicker because there's four or five clubs looking at Fred, so Manchester United are probably able to control that sale a little bit more."

What now for Fulham?

Fulham boss Silva has already managed to complete deals to acquire Calvin Bassey and Raul Jimenez this window, as per Transfermarkt; however, there is still plenty of work to do regarding incomings and outgoings at Craven Cottage.

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has issued a surprise update on the future of veteran winger Willian that could see him leave Fulham this summer despite only recently agreeing to a new contract extension at the club, as the renowned journalist stated on Twitter X: "EXCL: Saudi side Al Shabab approached Fulham winger Willian with formal bid as they have concrete interest. Willian signed new Fulham deal 10 days ago but Al Shabab are insisting — and player’s now speaking to the club about the proposal."

Cottagers striker Aleksandar Mitrovic wants out of Fulham in this off-season and will continue to seek an exit to go and sign for a European club even if his proposed move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal hits the breaks, as per The Evening Standard.

In terms of prospective arrivals at Fulham, Everton winger Demarai Gray could come in and has already agreed personal terms with the club, as per Football Insider.

Leeds United are in desperate need of reinforcements ahead of their imminent return to the Championship next weekend, and now a new update has emerged on a potential transfer target.

What's the latest on Leeds' interest in Francis Amuzu?

According to Belgian journalist Pieter-Jan Calcoen, Leeds are interested in signing Anderlecht winger Francis Amuzu this summer.

Calcoen revealed on Twitter:

"Francis Amuzu of #RSCA is high on the wish list of #Leeds , #LutonTown and #OGCNice . There is no concrete offer yet, but at least one of the three clubs is preparing one."

Who is Francis Amuzu?

The 23-year-old has risen through the ranks of Anderlecht's academy to become a first-team regular for the Belgian giants over his career so far, as well as earning a spot in the Belgium U21s in the past – tallying up 14 caps and two goals.

Over 203 appearances in all competitions, Amuzu has scored 20 goals and registered 28 assists whilst being deployed predominantly on the left wing, proving that he is a consistent contributor for the club and a player who could be a real asset to Daniel Farke next season.

Since being relegated in May, Leeds have seen a number of their Premier League players depart from Elland Road including several attacking talents including Rodrigo and Brenden Aaronson, whilst Italian talent Wilfried Gnonto's future hangs in the balance.

The 19-year-old enjoyed a promising debut campaign in English football last time out after scoring four goals and providing four assists in 28 games in all competitions, although after just a year at the club, it looks like the teenager's future could lie elsewhere.

It has been reported by Football Insider this week that Everton are in pole position to sign the Leeds star this summer and it was further noted that a £20m bid from the Merseysiders would be enough for the Whites to part ways with their winger.

As a result, the signing of Amuzu could ease the blow of losing Gnonto should the West Yorkshire outfit find themselves unable to hold onto their youngster this summer, as the Ghana-born forward is more than capable of making an impact in the final third.

Over 32 Belgian Pro League appearances last season, he scored three goals, registered six assists and created four big chances, as well as averaging 1.4 shots on goal, 35.3 touches, 17.4 accurate passes and 3.7 duels won per game, according to SofaScore.

Not only that, as per FBref, the Anderlecht star – hailed "quality" by former boss and Manchester City legend Vincent Kompany – ranked in the top 30% of his positional peers in the Men's Next Eight Competitions for assists, pass completion, progressive passes, progressive passes received, interceptions and clearances.

Indeed, it would be advantageous for Farke to retain as many of his best assets as possible for the promotion battle in the second tier next season, however, looking at their options will be a necessity over the final weeks of the transfer window, to ensure they are not caught short when they return to action next month.

With that being said, Amuzu would be a great prospect to explore as a potential replacement for Gnonto this summer and if his price tag of €10m (£8.5m) reported last year still stands, it would be a financially viable move for Leeds to secure his signature.

Liverpool may be focusing their attention on the rebuilding of the midfield this summer but are still attentive to the situation of Barcelona centre-back Andreas Christensen, and may yet make their move.

Is Andreas Christensen joining Liverpool?

That's following recent news from Spanish reports, who claim that Liverpool are hoping to sign Christensen after failing with a €30m (£25m) bid, with La Blaugrana holding out for closer to €50m (£43m).

The Denmark international was impressive in Spain last season after joining from Chelsea on a free transfer and played a central role in the club's momentous LaLiga triumph, with Jurgen Klopp now desperate to seal a deal.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

Fabrizio Romano recently confirmed the Reds' desire to sign a centre-back this summer, and with a move for No. 6 Romeo Lavia edging towards completion, Christensen could be next in line.

Would Andreas Christensen suit Liverpool?

Described as "very underrated" by Cesc Fabregas, Christensen would be the perfect option for Klopp in the likely scenario that Liverpool miss out on Josko Gvardiol, with Spanish sources recently linking the Croatian defender with a move to Anfield.

Gvardiol, aged 21, is touted at £85m by RB Leipzig and has been centre of intense speculation over a transfer to Manchester City, though this has recently stagnated.

Hailed as a "Rolls-Royce" by journalist Zach Lowy, Gvardiol is a first-rate prodigy and exemplifies the desirable qualities of a modern-day central defender, ranking among the top 16% of positional peers for pass completion, the top 18% for progressive passes, the top 1% for attempted passes, the top 4% for successful take-ons, and the top 9% for goals per 90, as per FBref.

Once said to be a "really special talent" by Chelsea writer Simon Phillips, Christensen could emulate the skills of Gvardiol, and himself ranks among the top 1% of centre-backs for pass completion, the top 5% for passes attempted and the top 10% for progressive passes per 90.

He is also the "intelligent" player – as once praised by former manager Thomas Tuchel – that Klopp covets, making correct decisions and laudable passes with great regularity.

Having made 32 appearances across all competitions for Barcelona last year, the £149k-per-week ace secured the Spanish first division title and impressed with an average Sofascore rating of 7.05, completing 94% of his passes, averaging two clearances per game and winning 69% of his aerial duels – important in the club's league-best defensive record of just 20 goals shipped.

For comparison, Gvardiol recorded an average rating of 6.94, completing 89% of his passes, averaging 2.3 clearances per game and winning 56% of his aerial duels.

Given that Christensen could be available for about half the fee that Gvardiol's departure from Leipzig would demand, and considering the lucrative spending Klopp's side have conducted already this summer, it's quite the no-brainer regarding which signing would be more appropriate, given the circumstances.

And while Liverpool's central defence consists of Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip, making a move for a ball-playing pro like Christensen could go a long way towards ensuring the club achieve their seasonal goals.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly eyeing Real Betis midfielder Guido Rodriguez, as Julen Lopetegui seeks a midfield rebuild this summer.

The Spaniard bid farewell to Portuguese duo Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho this window, and will now look to find reinforcements to fill the void left by the former Molineux maestros.

Could Wolves sign Guido Rodriguez?

As reported by journalist Cesar Luis Merlo this week, Wolves are eyeing the LaLiga gem, who remains under contract at Betis until next summer.

Merlo confirmed the Old Gold’s interest in the 29-year-old midfielder, claiming that negotiations are ‘underway’ between the two clubs, over the player valued around £17m by FootballTransfers.

While he added that the deal isn’t close to being finalised, the Midlands outfit's interest comes at a time when Betis may prefer a sale than for the player to depart as a free agent next year.

How good is Guido Rodriguez?

It’s integral for Lopetegui to identify a sufficient replacement for the departed duo Neves and Moutinho, who were key figures in Wolves’ journey in the Premier League.

The Spaniard could land the perfect solution to the two exits in obtaining Rodriguez, who was identified as a “monster” by analyst Marcus Bring for his exploits in LaLiga.

Signed by Betis from Mexican side America back in the 2020 winter window, the Argentine could be on the move this summer, with a move to the Premier League a possibility.

Heralded for his defensive contributions, the midfielder could be the ideal replacement for Moutinho, who closed the lid on his five-year stay in the Midlands at the expiration of his contract at the end of last season.

While the long-serving 36-year-old veteran was primarily deployed in central midfield rather than the deeper areas that Rodriguez inhabits in Spain, the averages recorded by the Argentine last term suggested that he could be a sufficient ball-playing replacement.

As per FBref, the 29-year-old maintained a pass completion rate of 86.7% in LaLiga last season, as well as making an average of 4.17 final third passes per 90 to showcase his assured presence in the central channel.

Moutinho recorded similar averages to the World Cup winner, maintaining a completion rate of 80.4% in the Premier League and averaging 5.31 final third passes per 90.

Their numbers signify that the Betis enforcer could be a like-for-like trade for Lopetegui’s side, as a player with similar efficiency in distribution.

The most prominent area of Rodriguez’s game is his defensive contributions, averaging a monstrous 3.60 tackles per 90 in LaLiga, ranking him in the top 2% of midfielders in the league, via FBref.

Moutinho fell short of the 29-year-old machine in such areas, averaging 2.58 tackles for Wolves, as well as recording 0.91 interceptions to the Betis star’s 1.32 per 90.

Possessing the innate balance between defensive and distribution strengths in the engine room, Lopetegui could fill the vacancy left by the Portuguese veteran in the middle of the park.

It’s expected that the Midlands side will have to make additional sales to make such moves in the window, despite accumulating around £80m in departures so far, only time will tell if the deal will prevail.

Paris Saint-Germain youngster Edouard Michut is "open-minded" about the idea of joining Leeds United this summer, according to transfer expert Dean Jones.

Who is Leeds target Edouard Michut?

The 20-year-old is currently plying his trade at PSG, but it is difficult to force his way into the club's plans, considering some of the world-class talent on show there.

Last season, Michut was loaned out to Sunderland in order to earn some priceless playing time, and he did well there in general, making 25 appearances in the Championship and proving to be a key midfield presence at times.

The youngster is now back at PSG after ending his loan spell in the north-east, but it looks as though his long-term future lies elsewhere. He is contracted to the Ligue 1 giants until the summer of 2025, but they could feel that now is the right time to cash in on him, rather than lose him for a cheaper amount further down the line.

Leeds have been linked with a move for Michut during the current transfer window, as they prepare for life back in the Championship, and it looks as though they still have a chance of acquiring his signature in the coming weeks.

Could Leeds sign Edouard Michut?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones provided an update on Leeds' quest to sign Michut this summer, saying they are still in the conversation to snap him up:

"Michut would offer something a bit different to Leeds and he is open-minded about the move as it could fit his style of play.

"Leeds do have limitations in terms of their spending in the Championship this season and this could be an astute addition."

Michut could be a great signing for Leeds, at a time when their midfield could do with reinforcements, having lost Adam Forshaw this summer, not to mention Weston McKennie returning to Juventus and Tyler Adams potentially leaving, too.

The youngster has still managed to make eight appearances for PSG, which is no mean feat in such a star-studded team, while his experience of playing in the Championship last season can only stand him in good stead ahead of a possible move to Elland Road.

Michut averaged 1.6 tackles per game for Sunderland in the competition last season, highlighting his off-the-ball work, while journalist Michael Graham described him as "superb" upon signing for the Black Cats last summer, so Leeds should view him as a strong target.

Brendan Rodgers has returned to Celtic for a second spell at Parkhead after a trophy-laden time in Glasgow earlier in his managerial career.

The Northern Irish tactician won seven trophies in less than three years with the Scottish giants between 2016 and 2019, before his move to Leicester.

He has now inherited a team that won five pieces of silverware in two seasons with Ange Postecoglou in charge, which included a domestic treble last season.

This means that Rodgers has a squad of proven winners with the quality required to dominate Scottish football in the upcoming campaign.

However, there is always room for improvement and the ex-Liverpool boss could improve his attacking options in midfield by signing Young Boys midfielder Fabian Rieder, who is a reported target for the club.

How good is Fabian Rieder?

The 5 foot 11 ace is an excellent midfielder whose performances in his home country during the 2022/23 season suggest that the 21-year-old technician would be a superb addition to the squad if he can translate his form over to Scotland.

Rieder could be unplayable alongside Reo Hatate in the middle of the park for the Glasgow-based outfit as they are both capable of making a big impact at the top end of the pitch.

The Switzerland international produced seven goals to go along with five assists in 33 Super League outings last term, whilst the talented youngster also registered an eye-catching two goals and five assists in five Swiss Cup matches.

Hatate (six) was the only central midfielder to score more than four Scottish Premiership goals for the Hoops last season, with Callum McGregor (four), Aaron Mooy (four), and Matt O'Riley (three) behind him.

These statistics suggest that Rieder and the Japan international would both be Rodgers' outstanding goalscoring options in midfield, which could strike fear into the opposition if they line up alongside each other.

They are both capable of finding the back of the net on a semi-regular basis to support the frontline attackers and their combined threat could force attention away from the likes of Kyogo Furuhashi and Liel Abada as teams may need to keep close tabs on them arriving late from a midfield position.

This could free up more space for the strikers to do their damage as the Scottish giants would have multiple scoring options for defenders to deal with, rather than allowing them to focus on one or two players to shut down.

Rieder also has the potential to be a creative force for Celtic. The left-footed maestro, who was lauded for his "exemplary" determination by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has racked up 11 assists across all competitions in each of the last two seasons for Young Boys, which included eight in the 2021/22 Super League campaign.

Now that Mooy and Jota have departed Parkhead permanently this summer, O'Riley (12) is the only current Hoops ace who assisted more than eight league goals last term.

This suggests that the Swiss whiz would come in as one of the club's most creative players whilst also being able to offer a huge goal threat from midfield alongside Hatate.

Therefore, the 21-year-old maestro, who could also be a long-term investment for Rodgers, with the potential to make Celtic a profit further down the line, could be unplayable alongside the Japanese dynamo next season due to their influence in the final third from a deep-lying position.

One of the most sensational rumours that have emerged from the current transfer window is talk of Kylian Mbappe making a staggering move to Liverpool.

It is no surprise, especially when you consider the chaotic and circus-like nature that envelops him at Paris Saint-Germain on a daily basis.

The latest twist in this astonishing saga has been reported by The Athletic, which states that the French juggernaut has sent a three-page letter to the forward, accusing him of unsettling the club throughout the summer and giving him an ultimatum deadline of July 31 to make a decision on his future.

The club has stated that he must sign a contract extension or he will be sold, as they refuse to lose the 24-year-old on a free next year. It is understood that PSG feels this is the only option to 'avoid lasting paralysis'.

This has left all of Europe’s biggest clubs sniffing around the globe’s best player, with Liverpool potentially lining up a stunning offer…

What’s the latest on Kylian Mbappe to Liverpool?

According to El Chiringuito TV, Liverpool is set to table a £171m bid for Mbappe to rescue him from his tumultuous situation at the Parc de Princes, a fee that would easily eclipse any previous arrival at Anfield to date.

Who can Kylian Mbappe link up with at Liverpool?

The 5 foot 10 attacker joined PSG back in 2017, forging 260 appearances and 310 goal contributions – a ridiculous record for an insanely talented individual.

He was also the spearhead of his nation’s 2018 World Cup triumph and became the only second player in history to score a hat-trick in the final of the tournament in 2022 against Argentina in Qatar.

His overarching quality has been noted from day one and his youth coach Antonio Riccardi said: “The first time I coached him was when he was six years old. You could tell he was different. Kylian could do much more than the other children. His dribbling was already fantastic and he was much faster than the others. He was the best player I've ever seen in 15 years coaching here. In Paris, there are many talents but I'd never seen a talent like him.”

Having Mbappe partner anyone in the frontline will ultimately improve the player and this would be particularly beneficial for Darwin Nunez, who endured an inconsistent debut season in England. The Uruguayan netted 15 goals in 42 outings last term, but in a transitional season for Liverpool, that saw long-term injuries to Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota, Nunez failed to reliably deliver.

Nevertheless, on multiple occasions, the 24-year-old showcased his burning pace, clever movement, and expertly-timed runs – three traits that have become trademarks of Mbappe’s devastatingly effective style of play.

With Nunez having been allowed a season to acclimate and adapt to the Premier League, the addition of Mbappe – who has been hailed as "phenomenal" by Manchester City's Erling Haaland – and his positional interchange with the former Benfica star could be a sickeningly efficient tactic next term.

Having the mercurial Frenchman competing against the robotic inevitability of Haaland is another mouth-watering storyline of this story, but it remains a pipe dream in what appears a never-ending saga.

Manchester United reportedly have a contract agreement in place with Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana, while an official first bid has also been made.

Are Man United signing Andre Onana?

The Red Devils and Erik ten Hag have been heavily linked with a move for the 27-year-old in recent weeks. Reports previously suggested that Man United were leading the race for his services and stories in recent days claimed a bid was expected to be submitted soon.

Inter Milan want €50m plus bonuses for the shot-stopper, a figure Old Trafford officials are rumoured to be willing to pay, and a further update has now emerged.

The Faithful MUFC relayed an update from La Gazzetta Dello Sport regarding Man United and Onana on Monday. They claimed that an Old Trafford salary has been agreed between United and Onana, with Ten Hag keen on bringing in the goalkeeper to replace David de Gea, who is now out of contract in Manchester.

Ten Hag has reportedly assured Onana that Man United will do everything they can to secure a deal with his club after agreeing terms with the player himself.

In a fresh update on all this by Fabrizio Romano, it has now been revealed that a first bid has now gone in for the goalkeeper but has been rejected.

The journalist explained: "Negotiations between Man United and Inter continue for Andre Onana — after £34m bid plus £5m in add-ons rejected. Deal absolutely on. "

What has been said about Andre Onana?

Onana is a player who Ten Hag knows extremely well following their time at Ajax. Hailed as a "superstar" by members of the media, the Cameroon international has made more appearances under Ten Hag than any other manager during his career (145). The United boss labelled Onana as a “masterful goalkeeper” last year before the pair went on to leave the Dutch giants, saying:

“Obviously he’s not yet back at his level from before the suspension.

“But that can’t be expected from him. He has to work hard to get there again and I’m convinced that he’ll succeed. We’ve all seen that he is a masterful goalkeeper.”

Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola is also a big fan, praising Onana’s ability on the ball after the Champions League final last month.

“Identifying the space and emptying the midfield is a special quality. Normally, teams have great keepers, but he [Onana] is exceptional with his feet.

“When you have a goalkeeper like Onana who can read perfectly where everyone is to pass to, with Calhanoglu and Barella, then the strikers hold it up and move the ball around. It is very, very difficult. It would be a tiny bit easier without this goalkeeper, but still very tough.”

Therefore, with De Gea now out of contract at Old Trafford, Onana could be a solid signing ahead of the new season. He enjoyed a solid first season at the San Siro, keeping 19 clean sheets in 41 games in all competitions.

As per FBref, Onana outperforms De Gea in a number of areas, including save percentage, goals against, touches and crosses stopped, showing how he could be a shrewd addition.

By the looks of things, all that needs to be agreed on now is a transfer fee, and who knows, Onana could be the next marquee summer signing after midfielder Mason Mount, with the England midfielder undergoing a medical at Carrington on Monday.