Andre Onana injury development amid ‘dire’ Man United transfer update
Andre Onana’s injury has left Man United in a tricky position with plenty of work needing to be done to revamp Ruben Amorim’s squad this summer.
The Cameroonian shot-stopper arrived at Old Trafford in 2023 for £47.2million after several stellar seasons in Italy as Inter’s number one.
But Onana’s time in England has been plagued by high-profile errors and poor performances, with the 29-year-old’s performance in the Europa League final loss against Tottenham a particularly low point.
As such, the Red Devils have been looking at alternative options and Man United have held a significant interest in Emi Martinez, sources told Football Insider.
But despite suffering an injury, the 20-time Premier League champions’ need to improve other areas of their squad may force their hand when it comes to finding a solution between the sticks, according to The i.
Man United need to improve other areas
As reported, Onana is on track to remain as United’s first-choice in goal next season, and the Cameroonian will travel on the club’s pre-season tour despite picking up an injury.
In spite of initial concerns that the goalkeeper would miss two months, he has responded well to treatment and is on course to be back in just four weeks.
Having looked at several alternative options in the transfer market, United will continue to hunt for a keeper, but if they do make a move for a new shot-stopper they will target a younger and less experienced option to provide cover as a back-up.
Senior figures within the club feel other areas of the squad are “in more dire need of revamping”, and if fit, Onana will “almost certainly” be in the side of United’s opening game of the season against Arsenal.
Man United must play to Andre Onana’s strengths
Football Insider Verdict
When United signed Onana, the shot-stopper was heralded as one of the best ball-playing goalkeepers in the world.
This comes as little surprise, given the 29-year-old came through Barcelona’s esteemed La Masia academy and spent the majority of his career with Ajax.
However, at Old Trafford, Onana has looked shaky and struggled to capture the form that made him revered as one of the world’s best.
If United are to get the best out of their goalkeeper, there needs to be an added emphasis on using the Cameroon international as an 11th outfielder.
Whilst playing out of the back is all the rage, United’s current crop of centre-backs are better defenders than they are playmakers.
Onana showed during his time in the Netherlands and Italy that he can slice teams apart with his passing and given they have a goalkeeper so capable of dictating attacks from deep, it is time they lean into that to get the best from their maligned number one.