Player United opted against signing last summer is ‘more likely’ to be sold now as club set valuation

Manchester United opted against making a bid for Everton’s Amadou Onana last summer in favour of adding Sofyan Amrabat on loan.

Even after Mason Mount completed his £55 million switch from Chelsea last July, reports made it clear that the Red Devils were on the hunt for another midfielder to bolster Erik ten Hag’s ranks for the 2023/2024 campaign.

However, when they forked out £47.2m for Andre Onana’s services, who succeeded David de Gea after 12 years, and a further £64m for the arrival of Rasmus Hojlund, it became evident that another mega-money signing was far-fetched.

As such, the only option that remained so late in the window was to delve into the loan market. Director of football negotiations Matt Hargreaves flew to Italy on deadline day in hopes of striking up a deal for long-linked target Amrabat of Fiorentina, and the Moroccan proceeded to join on a season-long loan.

He’ll be returning to his parent club in the coming weeks, though, having failed to live up to the expectations set of him over the past nine months.

Read more: ‘Final negotiations’ taking place between United and PL club for much-needed coup

United’s interest in standout Everton performers

Whether or not United will reignite their pursuit of Onana remains to be seen. Everton are well aware of widespread interest in their players across the Premier League, including the Belgian international, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Jarrad Branthwaite, the latter of which has also been heavily linked with the Reds.

Mail Sport reports that the Toffees are adamant about not being ‘bullied’ into accepting cut-price fees for any outgoings this summer amid speculation of clubs capitalising on their precarious financial situation, which led to them being dealt two separate points deductions.

The Merseyside outfit will do their utmost to convince Branthwaite, currently on international duty with England, to stay for at least another year, while Onana is ‘more likely’ to depart. They value the 22-year-old in the region of £58m after seeing Romeo Lavia bought by Chelsea for a similar price last August.