MANCHESTER UNITED and Chelsea have been warned their transfer target Andre Onana will not come cheap by Ajax chief Edwin van der Sar.
The Dutchman says there will be no cut prices for Ajax aces in the summer transfer window despite the financial impact of the coronavirus crisis.
Andre Onana has become highly-sought after during his five years with AjaxCredit: Getty – Contributor
Onana has been in scintillating form between the sticks since swapping La Masia for Amsterdam back in 2015.
He has won an Eredivisie title, as well as enjoying KNVB Cup success and was pivotal in the Dutch side’s run to the Champions League semi-finals, and now it seems he is ready to take the next step.
But former Dutch ace Van der Sar has warned the starlet’s potential suitors that Ajax won’t be bullied into a discounted price in the coming transfer window.
He told Reuters: “In January last year, people said we were going to lose seven or eight players but we lost only two key members
“The big clubs such as Bayern Munich have said the benchmark fee will go down in the next few transfer windows. But it’s easier for them to say because they are the buyers.
“Last year, we made verbal agreements with Onana, Tagliafico, Van de Beek to stay another season and then we look to help each other and find the next step in their careers. Nothing has changed.
“There won’t be a 50 per cent discount. The clubs can forget about that.”
Chelsea were said to be lining up a £25million move for Onana to replace club-record signing Kepa Arrizabalaga this summer following his poor run of form.
Boss Frank Lampard has made no secret of his desire for a new man between the posts, having dropped Arrizabalaga earlier this term in favour of 38-year-old regular bench-dweller Willy Caballero.
The Blues face competition from United for the Cameroonian stopper who is under contract at Ajax until June 2022 after penning a new deal himself in March.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side reportedly had a failed bid for the hotshot last summer.
And are said to have regained interest as David De Gea’s position at Old Trafford has come under threat for the first time ever after a series of blunders.
Of course there are other clubs interested in the Cameroonian keeper, most notably Spanish giants Barcelona, as well as Tottenham and PSG.
The 24-year-old progressed for the youth ranks with the Spanish side after he joined them at just 10 years old.
Ajax star, Donny van de Beek, 23, has been on the Red Devils’ radar for the last year after making a name for himself during the Dutch side’s run to the Champions League semi-finals.
But according to Le10 Sport in France, the Magpies are showing interest in the midfielder and could make a bid this summer.
The Dutch star is thought to be valued at around £44million – and would be affordable for the Toon amid their £300m Saudi backed takeover.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk