Man United suffer ‘massive’ Onana blow amid ‘huge’ Martinez update at Aston Villa
Andre Onana’s hamstring injury has left Man United scrambling to reassess their transfer strategy ahead of the new season.
The former Ajax keeper’s future has been the subject of much speculation over the summer after criticism during Ruben Amorim‘s disastrous first season in charge at Old Trafford.
Man United have been heavily-linked to Aston Villa’s World Cup winner Emi Martinez as a possible replacement, but it appeared Onana was set to remain as first choice as signings were to be prioritised in attacking areas.
Matheus Cunha has already been brought in from Wolves, and Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo is expected to soon follow him to Old Trafford.
But Mike McGrath in The Telegraph reports that the Red Devils have suffered a “massive blow” after Cameroon international Onana was ruled out of their pre-season tour with a hamstring issue that is projected to keep him out of action for up to eight weeks, and put his involvement in the 17 August clash with Arsenal to open the Premier League season in doubt.
Andre Onana to miss Man United tour with hamstring injury
According to the report Amorim is now weighing up whether to enter the market for a new keeper, although the club are “hopeful” Onana will be back for the start of the league campaign.
Altay Bayındır, whose own Man United future has been in doubt, is currently available as back-up while Tom Heaton has re-signed as third choice, and young Czech Radek Vítek is back from loan and said to be highly rated.
However, it is understood that a move for Martinez is not currently in the works given there is a “huge” distance between Man United and Aston Villa in terms of valuation.
The Argentine looks set to leave Villa Park but the giant gap between the two sides means a deal “has not left the ground” at this stage.
Man United have also considered Botafogo keeper John Victor, Football Insider understands, and scouts were dispatched to watch him in action at the Club World Cup.
Martinez plans could change after injury blow
Man United are believed to have made Martinez their top goalkeeper target if Onana leaves, former scout Mick Brown has told Football Insider, but it appears the valuations have been the major sticking point.
If anything is going to break that log-jam a significant injury blow such as this one would probably do it, and plenty of United fans would likely prefer the Villa star to arrive despite his own form trailing off slightly of late.
Despite Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s endless pleas of poverty and the deeply divisive cost-cutting drive his INEOS regime have been on at Old Trafford, Dr Dan Plumley has told Football Insider that Man United’s ability to spend might surprise some.
Whether there is enough there to splash out on whatever Villa are asking for remains to be seen when a new striker is needed thanks to the struggles of Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee.
Ollie Watkins has been linked as a possible answer for Amorim after his former Sporting star Viktor Gyokeres became the chosen one at Arsenal, so a package deal could be on the cards.
But given Aston Villa’s financial pressures were heavily influenced by their controversial defeat at Old Trafford on the final day – in which Martinez was sent off and Bayindir was rescued by the referee after Morgan Rogers stole the ball off him to score – and missing out on Champions League qualification as a result, they will be in no mood to give any sort of discount.