Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana faces an increasingly uncomfortable situation at Old Trafford with both the club and his teammates appearing to have lost faith in him.
A Loss of Confidence
Ruben Amorim backed Onana last season after a calamitous error in the Europa League quarter-final against Lyon, recounting how the Cameroon international was a “top, top player” at Inter Milan and stressing he “can worth with” the 29-year-old.
But these always felt like the words of a manager without the benefit of a transfer window to make a change in a position in desperate need of an upgrade.
Onana’s dismal form would normally have led to the number two stepping up. But Altay Bayindir demonstrated a comparably unsteady hand when selected by Amorim in Onana’s stead last season, leaving the Portuguese coach in between a rock and a hard place in goal.
United have been on the hunt for a new goalkeeper this summer but the bulk of the club’s budget has been directed towards overhauling the misfiring forward line, with over £200 million spent securing Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko.
This has left little financial wiggle room for a new shot stopper. Neither Onana nor Bayindir are actively pushing for an exit either, further complicating the pursuit of a replacement for either.
But the Red Devils’ disappointing start to the new campaign has brought back the need for a goalkeeper into sharp focus, after Bayindir’s shaky performances in the Premier League and Onana’s horrendous showing against Grimbsy Town in the Carabo Cup on Wednesday night.
A report relayed by The Peoples Person reveals the United dressing room is losing confidence in their goalkeepers with a number of players increasingly “uneasy” about the situation.
This sentiment must surely be shared by Amorim himself who could not bring himself to watch United’s penalty shoot-out loss to Grimsby, in which Onana did almost everything he could to help the opposition through.
United are locked in negotiations for Royal Antwerp’s Senne Lammens – the highly-rated 23-year-old Belgian goalkeeper – but there is no agreement in place and a growing sense that the inability to shift either Onana or Bayindir is impeding the process.
Onana appears intent on remaining at Old Trafford past Monday’s deadline – but a report from the Guardian demonstrates where the club would prefer the Cameroonian to be come Tuesday morning.
Offered to a Premier League rival
The Guardian reveals United offered West Ham the opportunity to sign Onana on loan.
But the Hammers delivered a swift response as they “turned down the chance” to sign the 29-year-old, despite being in the market for a new goalkeeper.
Onana is unlikely to have considered West Ham as an option but the fact it was on the cards is a testament to how far Onana’s stock has fallen.
From his brilliant displays for Inter Milan in the Champions League two years ago to now being rejected by a bottom half Premier League club desperate to sign a player in his position.
Take the hint Andre – it’s time to go.
Featured image Michael Regan 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.
