Manchester United have made a fresh decision on their goalkeeper targets, as Andre Onana returns to training ahead of the first Premier League game of the season against Arsenal.
Andre Onana has missed Manchester United’s entire pre-season and hasn’t played for the club since the Europa League final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur after picking up an injury before the post-season tour in Asia.
Altay Bayindir and Tom Heaton have played in his place in pre-season, but neither goalkeeper appears to have a long-term playing future at Old Trafford, and a new shotstopper could still join Rúben Amorim’s before the end of the transfer window.
Emiliano Martínez was the first goalkeeper target for Jason Wilcox this summer, but Aston Villa rejected United’s loan offer for the Argentine, and negotiations don’t appear to have continued.
Manchester City have recently opened talks with Gianluigi Donnarumma, despite interest from United, so a deal to sign a new goalkeeper is coming harder by the day, but the club have now made a fresh decision on their potential new signing.
United set to sign a young goalkeeper as Onana competition
In recent days, Fabrizio Romano said that United hadn’t decided what type of goalkeeper to sign this summer. Young or old, that is the question.
However, Pete Hall of iPaper Sport has now revealed that “United are looking at signing a young goalkeeper to provide competition for Andre Onana.”
The report continues to say that the Red Devils remain interested in Donnarumma, but have been put off by his wage demands, despite being available for just £26 million.
Chelsea and Manchester City are also “tracking” the Italian goalkeeper, but Pep Guardiola’s side has officially opened talks with Donnarumma, despite resigning James Trafford from Burnley earlier in the window.
If United do favour a younger option, they may reignite their interest in Royal Antwerp’s Senne Lammens, who was heavily linked to the Red Devils before Martínez became available.
Will Onana start against Arsenal?
Onana has officially returned to training this week, as United prepare for the opening Premier League fixture at home to Arsenal, who will be looking to challenge for the title after missing out last season.
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Bayindir played 90 minutes in the final pre-season game and featured in the Premier League last season, but many feel Onana is still likely to be given the nod ahead of the Turkish shotstopper.
Three points against Arsenal would show much Amorim’s side has improved over the course of pre-season, but playing a goalkeeper who isn’t up to speed would be a big risk.
However, playing Bayindir in goal brings another risk to Amorim, as the defence has played more with Onana than Bayindir, despite who has played in pre-season.
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