Man Utd ready to pursue World Cup revelation who was ‘ignored’ by Mbappe – Report

Manchester United are reportedly interested in Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill, who has been a World Cup sensation.

The Red Devils have agreed to send Andre Onana back to Trabzonspor for a second loan spell, while Altay Bayindir is expected to follow suit by leaving the club, with Besiktas emerging as his most likely destination.

Radek Vitek will return to Carrington for pre-season, but the 22-year-old is seeking a more prominent role, so he’s also heading out of the club. Therefore, Man Utd will need a new backup for Senne Lammens.

Orlando Gill linked with a move to Man Utd

In recent weeks, Karl Darlow and Sam Johnstone emerged as the most likely candidates to fill the vacancy.

Darlow is a 35-year-old goalkeeper who had a solid campaign at Leeds United, but is now a free agent after allowing his contract to run out, though the Peacocks are still trying to keep him, whereas Johnstone is a backup goalkeeper for the relegated Wolves, who had developped in Man Utd’s academy.

But according to Fichajes, MUFC were one of the clubs that were left impressed by Orlando Gill’s World Cup heroics for Paraguay.

The 26-year-old played an instrumental role in the South Americans’ memorable run in the tournament. His heroics helped his nation pull off the biggest upset of this edition so far by eliminating Germany from the Round of 32.

However, Gill’s superb display wasn’t enough against France, as the tournament favourites scraped through thanks to Kylian Mbappe’s spot-kick.

After the contest, the Paraguayan goalkeeper took the spotlight by tossing the ball at the Real Madrid star, who snubbed a handshake.

“I tried to shake his hand, but since he didn’t pay me any attention, I lost my temper,” he explained his post-match actions via Fox.

Should Man United pursue Gill?

Gill began his career at his hometown club of San Lorenzo in Paraguay. In 2024, he ironically completed a transfer to the more famous San Lorenzo club in Argentina. He initially joined the club’s second team, but he was promoted to the first squad a year later, and he’s now considered a regular starter.

While the World Cup always presents us with new stars who seize the opportunity and shine at the biggest stage, they don’t always manage to maintain consistent levels when joining elite clubs. Moreover, Fichajes reports should often be taken with a grain of salt.

It should be noted that Man Utd have implemented a well-defined recruitment system, combining traditional scouting with data analysis. Therefore, the Premier League giants are only expected to pursue a player should he meet the required standards rather than making impulsive decisions based on a few impressive displays.

At this stage, Johnstone likely remains the most plausible option for Lammens’ understudy role, partially thanks to his academy-product status, which would also boost Man Utd’s Champions League squad.