Manchester United are staring down a summer of decision. Andre Onana’s debut seasons at Old Trafford have been a cocktail of acrobatics and calamities—saves that make you believe, errors that break you.
And now, with patience thinning, the club is plotting a move for the man crowned the best in France: Lucas Chevalier as per CaughtOffside.
Only 23, Chevalier is the quiet storm behind Lille’s resurgence. A graduate of their famed academy, he returned from two modest loan spells in France’s lower tiers to seize the number one shirt in 2022.
This season, he has been relentless—34 Ligue 1 games, 11 clean sheets, a Europa League berth, and the UNFP Ligue 1 Goalkeeper of the Year award. Numbers tell a story. Presence seals it.
For United, this is more than recruitment. It’s restoration. The image of a goalkeeper who can calm the crowd with his hands, not test their nerves.
Chevalier stands at 6ft 2in, confident in the air, disciplined on the line, and fearless off it. But they are not alone in pursuit—Aston Villa have already tabled a £40 million bid, showing their intent to snatch him from under Old Trafford’s nose.
The urgency is real. With Gabriel Jesus out for Arsenal, Tottenham’s chase for Mathys Tel heating up, and the summer market already bristling with competition, hesitation can kill a deal before it breathes. United know that. Villa know that. Chevalier will soon know which club truly means it.
United have faltered before by waiting too long. This time, they must move before the door slams shut.