A parting of ways between Manchester United and out-of-form goalkeeper Andre Onana is now on the cards at the end of the season but the Red Devils can’t afford to approve a cut-price exit, according to reports.
The Cameroonian has been in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons after further goalkeeping clangers against Olympique Lyonnais last week put his side’s Europa League hopes in jeopardy, with the match ending 2-2.
He was not picked for Sunday’s 4-1 defeat to Newcastle United, with Altay Bayindir selected instead.
The Athletic note that Onana’s recent flaky performances, and especially the one in France last Thursday, may have led to a re-evaluation of summer transfers but that, as always, the club will have to play financial Tetris to make any progress.
The Athletic report that bringing in a new goalkeeper “has not been on the agenda for United to this point”, adding that a new striker is the priority along with another attacker, a midfielder and a wing-back.
However the report continues that “faith in Onana is eroding due to mistakes in pivotal moments”, and “there is a feeling around the club that a lasting separation could at least be explored by both sides.”
Indeed, they reveal that there have long been question marks over the 29-year-old, with his signing “not a unanimous decision in United’s recruitment department” when he arrived from Inter Milan two years ago.
Onana’s recent change of agents has only fuelled speculation over his next move, although The Athletic claim that its primary purpose was “to get a fresh outlook and possibly, in time, negotiate a new contract.”
They also reveal that his current contract includes the squad-wide pay cut for failing to qualify for the Champions League, which is set at 25% but can be negotiated individually.
Onana, however, expected his team to be in the prestigious competition and the financial drop “came as a shock to the system when activated last year” – he even had a conversation with then-sporting director Dan Ashworth about it.
It was around that time that dialogue opened with Saudi Pro League clubs and “some at United had the impression Onana was interested in what might be on offer.” But the keeper stayed put and bought a house in Manchester where he’d previously been renting.
Now, with crushing inevitability, PSR again promises to thwart United’s attempts to overhaul their squad should they look to move the Cameroonian on.
The Athletic point out that “any sale would have to be above a certain level to avoid going down as an accounting loss, which United cannot afford in the present state.”
United agreed a deal worth £43.8m with Inter to sign the player, and the fee is amortised into United’s accounts over the course of his five-year contract.
Therefore, Onana still holds a book value of £26.3m, meaning this is the lowest price the Red Devils can feasibly accept just to break even.
Finding a buyer willing to part with that much cash for a player deep in the doldrums could be an impossible task.
United and Onana will be hopeful of a rekindling of Saudi interest, but failing a permanent departure the 29-year-old may become yet another high-earner pushed out on loan next season.
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Joe Ponting
Joe has spent more than half his life writing about football and all of it following United. As a child he told a doctor his name was ‘Paul Scholes’, but could never pick a pass like him no matter how much he tried.
