The World Cup proved this summer that it is still capable of introducing the viewing audience to new stars they had not encountered before.
There were a few players who enjoyed a breakout tournament that make them into household names, such as Aston Villa new boy Johan Manzambi and Mexico’s Julian Quinones.
Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill was very much among that clutch of players after a series of excellent performances, making the most saves of any goalkeeper and most notably playing a key part in his side’s penalty shootout victory over Germany in the round of 32.
Manchester United eyeing Orlando Gill transfer
Gill has now returned to Argentina for training with his club San Lorenzo – but the local media report that the club are now braced for an offer from the Premier League.
Vamos Ciclon write that there was a spate of links to the English top flight during the World Cup, but that such rumours had died down until this week – at which point it emerged that Gill’s representatives were ‘expecting an offer’ from Manchester United.
San Lorenzo are now said to be on the lookout for Gill’s replacement – though the report adds that a formal bid had not yet been received by the club.
For FourFourTwo, the link only really makes sense thanks to the terms of Gill’s contract at San Lorenzo.
Goalkeeper became a problem position for United following David De Gea’s departure in 2023, with Andre Onana failing to convince with his erratic performances and Altay Bayindir faring little better in his handful of auditions for the club.
However, Senne Lammens enjoyed an excellent debut campaign after arriving from Royal Antwerp on transfer deadline day.
Though he endured a horror moment during the World Cup, when coming on as a second-half substitute for Belgium vs Spain in the World Cup quarter-finals, at 24 the Belgian stopper still has plenty of good years to give in a United shirt
The wrinkle is that according to Vamos Ciclon, Gill has a release clause of just USD $7m (£5.5m), although confusingly, the Argentinian outlet add that that is ‘the minimum from which San Lorenzo is willing to negotiate’.
That would make Gill a real steal if United or any other Premier League club were to launch a bid – even if he were only signed as backup.
Olympiacos are also said to have bid for Gill’s services, but neither San Lorenzo nor the goalkeeper were moved by that opportunity.