Trabzonspor president says Onana's financial demands met as permanent deal nears

Trabzonspor president Ertugrul Dogan has declared that his club have met Andre Onana’s financial demands, raising the prospect of the Manchester United goalkeeper making his loan spell in Turkey a permanent arrangement. United require approximately £20 million from any sale to avoid a loss under the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules.

Onana spent last season on loan with Trabzonspor, winning the Turkish Cup and earning a strong reputation among supporters after helping the club qualify for the Europa League. Despite those achievements in Turkey, reports had suggested the Cameroon international was keen to return to Old Trafford and compete with young Belgian Senne Lammens for the number one shirt — though Lammens impressed sufficiently last season to make the position his own.

Speaking to Ajansspor, Dogan was bullish about the club’s chances of retaining the goalkeeper. “I think Andre Onana will stay with the team,” he said. “We’ve met his financial demands. The fans like him too. He’s a decent bloke. I don’t think we’ll have any problems. I don’t think he’ll find the same level of interest in him anywhere else. So I think he’ll stay with the team.”

Dogan had previously told HT Spor that he wanted to reach an agreement “in the coming days”, adding that Trabzonspor were in near-daily contact with the goalkeeper. “We speak with Andre Onana almost every day. He loves it here,” he said. “We want him to stay, but of course everyone has their own life and plans. We have to respect that. I don’t think we’ll have any problems in the coming days. But if we do, the management will do what’s necessary. We’ll find another goalkeeper of the same quality.”

Although a transfer fee between United and Trabzonspor has not yet been formally agreed, Dogan suggested that no significant obstacles remain on the player’s side. Fellow Turkish Super Lig side Besiktas have also been linked with a move for Onana, adding a degree of competition to proceedings that could work in United’s favour as they look to complete the sale.