‘Man United to go all out for Club World Cup star amid major Andre Onana blow’
Ruben Amorim has been left in a tricky position at Man United following Andre Onana’s major injury blow ahead of the new season.
Despite a series of goal-costing errors in between the sticks, the 29-year-old has remained the No.1 goalkeeper at Old Trafford since his £47.2million move from Ajax two summers ago [BBC Sport].
There has been a lot of speculation around the shot-stopper’s future in the Premier League this summer, with Mick Brown telling Football Insider last month that Man United are open to signing Aston Villa’s Emi Martinez.
Supporters are yet to see any movement in the summer transfer window when it comes to finding a new goalkeeper, other than securing Tom Heaton on a new deal, but the Red Devils may be more desperate now.
Andre Onana picks up long-term injury at Carrington
According to The Telegraph (12 July), Onana has been ruled out of United’s pre-season tour of Sweden and the USA after picking up a hamstring injury earlier this week at Carrington.
It is understood that the manager is now weighing up whether to sign a brand-new goalkeeper, given that early assessment suggests the Cameroon international could be sidelined for up to eight weeks.
Altay Bayindir and Heaton are both available, also joined by the highly-rated Radek Vítek, but bringing in a new face for between the sticks could make sense for the Red Devils this summer.
As well as being under massive pressure for his errors, Onana is also likely to be away with the Cameroon national team for the African Cup of Nations, with the competition beginning in December.
Man United to target Botafogo’s John Victor
After a sensational set of performances at the Club World Cup, even keeping a clean sheet against PSG, Football Insider understands that Man United have been eyeing a move for John Victor from Botafogo.
Although that was the 29-year-old’s only clean sheet of the tournament before the Brazilian giants were knocked out by Palmeiras, there is no doubt over the goalkeeper’s ability despite playing the majority of his career in South America.
Many could see the move as a risk by the Red Devils, but with the big-money signing of Onana clearly backfiring at Old Trafford, the pull of a switch to the Theatre of Dreams could help sweeten the deal.
Nottingham Forest have already signed teammates, Igor Jesus and Jair Cunha, suggesting the six-foot-five-inch ‘keeper may also have what it takes to make it in the Premier League next season.
With moves also being made for Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, it remains to be seen how much more Amorim has left to spend without multiple exits being sealed, so Victor could be the ideal signing.
There are only a few weeks remaining until Man United kickstart their campaign against Arsenal on Sunday, 17 August, so the manager needs to bed in the new recruits as quickly as possible this summer.
A major injury to a high-profile player has a funny way of sparking clubs into action so it would be no surprise to see United follow through on their interest in Victor in a big way.