Man Utd's two left-field transfer options to replace Onana after costly errors

Andre Onana's latest high-profile blunders led to him being dropped for Manchester United's game at Newcastle, with Ruben Amorim knowing he must recruit a new No.1 this summer

A new goalkeeper was not uppermost in Ruben Amorim's mind when he began the task of trying to revive Manchester United last November. But after watching Andre Onana confirm his status as more of a liability to United than an asset, Amorim must surely have reached the conclusion that a change between the posts is required.

Amorim's decision to leave Onana out of United's Premier League trip to Newcastle at the weekend was dressed up as a chance for him to “rest and disconnect” after two costly blunders in a 2-2 Europa League quarter-final first leg draw at Lyon. But no amount of spin or semantics can get away from the brutal reality that Onana was dropped by Amorim because of his repeated mistakes that have continued to cost United.

Since joining United, Onana has made nine mistakes leading directly to goals in all competitions, more than any other Premier League goalkeeper over the same period.

As well as the two mistakes against Lyon, Onana also badly misjudged a free-kick from Ipswich's Jaden Philogene, leading to a goal in a narrow 3-2 win for United at Old Trafford in February, as well as a string of high-profile gaffes in his debut season.

While he remains a competent shot-stopper, Onana was brought in ostensibly for his distribution with his feet, something his predecessor, David De Gea, struggled with.

Yet Onana's distribution has been lamentable this season, the Cameroon international barracked by his own fans in the recent goalless derby with Manchester City for not releasing the ball quickly enough to start attacks.

Even when he does use his feet to play out from the back, Onana's delivery has been found wanting, his accuracy with his feet not what it should be for a goalkeeper playing at the highest level, for one of the world's biggest clubs.

That is why a signing a new first-choice goalkeeper has become imperative for United this summer, with Altay Bayindir – who conceded four goals on his Premier League debut at Newcastle – not the answer. Recently, Amorim admitted the emergence of 18-year-old Ayden Heaven had changed United's thoughts about needing to go into the market for a new central defender this season.

Conversely, Onana's worsening form has led to a realisation among the United hierarchy that they cannot continue with such an error-prone keeper if they are serious about getting back to the top. Onana's arrival at United – and subsequent wretched form – is emblematic of everything that has gone wrong at the club in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.

United paid Inter Milan £47million for Onana in 2023, a year after he had joined the Serie A club as a free agent, after his contract had expired at Ajax. It was another example of poor recruitment and needless overspending, and a signing that has undermined United this season, their worst of the Premier League era.

This summer, Amorim will continue the overhaul and reshaping of his squad, which must include a keeper who can play out from the back with confidence and instil confidence in his defenders.

Senne Lammens of Antwerp and Lille's Lucas Chevalier are among the left-field names linked with a move to United this summer, but whoever Amorim decides to go for must surely be an upgrade on Onana.