- Andre Onana is still under contract at Manchester United
- £47m flop left on loan last summer
- Trabzonspor want to keep Onana
Manchester United have a decision to make on several loan players this summer, including Andre Onana. The 30-year-old has spent the season at Turkish side Trabzonspor after his disaster at Grimsby Town prompted the pursuit of a replacement before the transfer window closed.
Onana’s shambolic role in both of the League Two club’s goals, before saving only one of 13 penalties in the shoot-out, led to one of United’s most humiliating results ever. Senne Lammens arrived in an £18million deal soon after, and the Belgian has proven to be one of the Premier League signings of the season.
While Lammens is nailed on as United’s starting goalkeeper next term, Onana’s impending return and his participation at the World Cup have the potential to complicate things. But decision-makers at Old Trafford have reportedly already agreed on where the £47m flop’s future lies, and it is not between the sticks in Michael Carrick’s team.
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Man Utd are done with Andre Onana
According to The Athletic, United will listen to offers for Onana once he returns from his loan spell in Turkey this summer.
Trabzonspor want the Cameroon international to stay, but they might not be able to afford his wages due to a contractual increase linked to United’s Champions League status.
Onana has not given up on his future at Old Trafford, and he could feature in pre-season if Lammens goes far in the World Cup with Belgium.
But he is unlikely to convince club figures that he is worthy of a second chance after he failed to replace David de Gea in his first two years in Manchester.
Whether Carrick stays on as United’s head coach beyond the summer, or an alternative boss arrives, there is next to no chance that Onana usurps Lammens as United’s metaphorical No. 1.
It’s Senne Lammens’ time
United must ensure the squad is fully prepared to compete in the Champions League. They cannot afford a repeat of the disastrous 2023/24 campaign, which saw them finish rock bottom of a group containing Bayern Munich, Galatasaray and Copenhagen with one win.
Onana played a central role in that failure, consistently producing costly howlers to undo dangerous attacking performances. Bayern Munich and Copenhagen won 4-3 at the Allianz Arena and Parken, respectively. There was also a 3-2 defeat to Galatasaray at Old Trafford and a 3-3 draw in Istanbul.
Those scorelines only scratch the surface when looking back on just how disappointing Onana was in Europe. This season, Lammens has earned the right to add to the single Champions League appearance he made for Royal Antwerp.
The best thing United could do is reward Radek Vitek’s successful loan stint at Bristol City – where he has been named the Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year and Fans’ Player of the Year – by handing him opportunities to play in pre-season.
Onana has had his chance as a starter, and he did not take it. He is earning far too much money to remain a backup goalkeeper. If Trabzonspor cannot afford him this summer, United must find another club that can and cut their losses.
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