Manchester United is reportedly interested in acquiring Ivan Provedel from Lazio, as per Footballwave’s information.
The 29-year-old goalkeeper has established himself as one of the top goalkeepers in Serie A and has recently earned a regular place in Italy’s national team.
Provedel has gained attention this season as the most prominent goalscoring goalkeeper worldwide. He made headlines during the Champions League group stage by scoring a crucial late goal that helped Lazio secure a 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid. His 96th-minute equalizer was vital for Lazio’s advancement to the last 16, marking only the third time in Champions League history that a goalkeeper has scored from open play.
This season’s display of Provedel’s scoring ability isn’t a one-off; he previously demonstrated this talent while on loan at Juve Stabia in 2020, where he scored a late equalizer against Ascoli. Interestingly, he started his career as a striker, scoring 27 goals as a teenager for Pordenone’s youth team during the 2008/09 season before moving to the goalkeeper role.
United’s interest in Provedel suggests they might consider replacing what many view as the best passing goalkeeper with a contender for the title of best-scoring goalkeeper.
However, Lazio’s €35 million asking price for Provedel poses a challenge for United in the January transfer window. Nevertheless, the club plans to keep an eye on him for a potential summer transfer.
In contrast, Andre Onana’s time at Manchester United has not lived up to expectations since his €51 million (plus €4 million in bonuses) move from Inter Milan. Although he had a stellar Champions League season with Inter, where he led in clean sheets and earned accolades as the top ball-playing goalkeeper, Onana has struggled at Old Trafford.
His notable mistakes, especially in Champions League losses to Galatasaray and Bayern Munich, have been problematic.
Currently, Manchester United is lagging in the Premier League and has exited both European competitions and the League Cup.
The pursuit of Provedel highlights the club’s desire to strengthen key areas, potentially altering their goalkeeping dynamics. As they weigh these options, the upcoming summer transfer window becomes a crucial opportunity for United to tackle their squad challenges and regain competitiveness across various competitions.
