Manchester United have missed £15m transfer chance to sign star who impressed Zlatan Ibrahimovic
United are expected to be busy in the summer transfer market but may have missed a golden opportunity
Manchester United have already been busy in the summer transfer window as they look to rebuild this summer under Ruben Amorim.
After a season which saw them record their worst ever Premier League finish, United are keen to strengthen their squad this summer.
Their lack of goals last season is a major issue, making the signing of a new forward one of their biggest priorities this summer.
They are also targeting signings in the two attacking midfield roles of Amorim's 3-4-2-1 formation and have agreed the signing of Matheus Cunha from Wolves.
United are also keen to wrap up the signing of Bryan Mbeumo too, with the pair scoring a combined 37 goals this season.
The Reds are also said to be keen to sign a new midfielder and a new wing-back but there are many United fans who feel as if they should be looking to strengthen their goalkeeping department.
Andre Onana has failed to convince during his first two seasons at United following his £47million move from Inter Milan in 2023.
He made an unconvincing start, recovered to end last season and start this season well, but mistakes have crept back into his game in recent months.
It is likely he will remain United's number one this summer but there is an argument to be made that after two seasons the jury should be out on whether he is good enough to keep goal for United.
And if reports in Italy are to be believed and Chelsea are close to agreeing an £18million package to sign AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan, there may be some who question why United aren't shopping in that market at that price.
The 29-year-old has proven himself to be one of the best goalkeepers in the world since moving to Milan and has won league titles in both France and Italy.
His mentality impressed his former team-mate and former United forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who is ironically now a senior adviser to the Milan board.
When Maignan was a teenage goalkeeper coming through the ranks at PSG, he stood up to Ibrahimovic during a shooting session on the training ground.
"Even if we’re not in touch today, I like him," Maignan told France Football. "He’s honest. He says what he has to say to you to your face. But when you speak to him, you have to be careful, that you’re not too perfect.
"He had a go a me and I answered him. For some people, it was not normal because I was only 17, but for me it was the right thing to do.
"He was practising shooting and the ball was going past me at 400km an hour! Gianluigi Buffon, Julio Cesar, these guys wouldn’t have stopped those shots.
"He told me: ‘You’re a sh*t goalkeeper.’ For me, that wasn’t right. The next time, he came back but I stopped his shot. I had to respond: ‘You’re a sh*t attacker.’
"He just looked at me and didn’t say anything. Back in the changing room, he stopped me. He told me that it’s good, that he liked what I did and that he liked my personality.
"I loved him before but it made me like him even more."
Fast forward to the present day and Maignan is France's number one and because he is out of contract at the San Siro at the end of next season, he is available at a discounted price this summer.
Chelsea have identified they needed to strengthen their goalkeeping department and have spotted an opportunity to perhaps secure one of the biggest steals of this summer's transfer market.
Many will feel it is an opportunity United should have explored, too.
