Andre Onana headed into this summer as Manchester United’s first-choice goalkeeper in his mind. But as the transfer window slammed shut last night, he likely ends it in third place, behind Altay Bayindir and new signing Senne Lammens.
A Change in Plans
United were not planning to sign a goalkeeper this summer but “circumstances changed” when Onana reported back for pre-season training, according to The Athletic.
The Cameroon international flagged a hamstring issue on day one, which then became a “full injury” on day two. This left United’s staff “questioning” the shape their senior player had returned to Carrington in and a setback which created a “lasting impression” for Amorim.
Furthermore, at this stage, Onana is reported to have wanted a new contract – a view he has held since the 25% wage cut for missing out on Champions League football came into action last summer, despite the 29-year-old’s unsteady performances playing a huge part in this.
The Athletic contends this stance also “did not go down well with Amorim.”
From July onwards, the Portuguese coach became “keen” for another goalkeeper to arrive at Old Traford, with his preference being Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez.
The view was that at 32 years of age, the World Cup winner with Argentina had the experience and personality to be United’s number one – attributes Amorim considered “hugely beneficial” to his squad.
But a deal proved too costly to pursue, despite Amorim remaining in direct communication with Martinez throughout the summer, with a sense that Villa would demand in excess of £30 million.
The club’s preference, based on the recruitment department, was Lammens – Royal Antwerp’s 23-year-old goalkeeper, who had received glowing scouting reports and would be far cheaper, both in terms of transfer fee and wages, than Martinez.
And this choice was “activated” following a poor start to the new campaign, from both of Amorim’s senior goalkeepers.
A Bad Start to the Season
Amorim had chosen to start Bayindir in the final game of last season – the 2-0 win over Villa at Old Trafford – following Onana’s dismal performance in the Europa League final a few days prior.
The physical state the Cameroonian returned to pre-season in, buttressed by his borderline delusional contract stance, only compounded Amorim’s rapidly dwindling faith in him.
And these three flash points translated into the start of the new season with the Portuguese coach opting to start Bayindir over Onana for the match against Arsenal.
Bayindir made a howler which gifted the Gunners all three points, however, despite United largely dominating their domestic rival at Old Trafford.
But Amorim would not be perturbed from his choice, throwing his full weight behind the Turkey international and continuing to select him for the next two league matches, away to Fulham and at home to Burnley.
Onana has only started once – in the humiliating penalty shoot-out loss to Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup where the Cameroonian did his best to help the League Two side beat United. It’s a choice which reflects his place in Amorim’s squad now.
After Onana was again dropped for the trip to Craven Cottage, his representatives checked with the club whether they should “seek exit options” before the September 1 deadline, only to be told he “remains a part of Amorim’s plans.”
The arrival of Lammens in the dying hours of Monday evening is likely to have changed this stance, however.
Amorim evidently prefers Bayindir at this stage, based on his dislike of Onana’s approach this summer and his poor performances in last season’s Europe League campaign. And United have signed Lammens with the intention of the Belgium U-21 international competing for the number one shirt, even if he does not outright claim it straight away.
The only goalkeeper at Old Trafford Onana can be sure he remains above in the hierarchy is Tom Heaton – the 40-year-old stalwart closer to being a member of the coaching staff than a first-team player.
Onana is likely to be in a state of confusion at how rapidly his position at United has changed – but then he has appeared in a similar state for the majority of time in Manchester, so it should hardly be a surprise.
The transfer markets in Turkey and Saudi Arabia – two leagues credited with interest in Onana – remain open, suggesting a departure from Old Trafford could still be on the cards for the Cameroonian.
Featured image Clive Rose via Getty Images
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Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
