Manchester United is reportedly showing interest in acquiring Ivan Provedel from Lazio, according to reports from Footballwave. The 29-year-old goalkeeper has solidified his position as one of Serie A’s top goalkeepers and has recently become a regular part of Italy’s national team. Provedel gained global recognition this season as the most distinguished goalscoring goalkeeper, notably scoring a crucial late goal during the Champions League group stage, securing a 1-1 draw for Lazio against Atletico Madrid.
His 96th-minute equalizer played a pivotal role in Lazio advancing to the last-16 stage, marking only the third instance in Champions League history where a goalkeeper scored during open play. Provedel’s scoring prowess is not a recent development; he demonstrated it while on loan at Juve Stabia in 2020, netting a late equalizer against Ascoli. Intriguingly, Provedel began his career as a striker, accumulating 27 goals as a teenager for Pordenone’s youth team before transitioning to the goalkeeper position professionally.
United’s interest in Provedel raises the possibility of replacing what many consider to be the world’s best passing goalkeeper with a contender for the title of the best-scoring goalkeeper. However, Lazio’s €35 million asking price seems to be a hurdle for United in the January transfer window, though they plan to monitor him for a potential summer transfer.
On the other hand, Andre Onana’s tenure at Manchester United has not met expectations following his €51 million transfer from Inter Milan. Despite a standout Champions League season with Inter, Onana has faced difficulties at Old Trafford, evident in notable errors during Champions League defeats against Galatasaray and Bayern Munich.
As Manchester United trails in the Premier League and exits European competitions and the League Cup, the pursuit of Provedel indicates the club’s quest for reinforcements in crucial positions, potentially reshaping their goalkeeping department. With the summer transfer window looming, United faces a pivotal period to address squad challenges and regain a competitive position on multiple fronts.
