According to club legend Gary Neville, the role of goalkeeper at Manchester United is the most challenging position in English football.
For every Peter Schmeichel, there exists a Massimo Taibi; for every Edwin van der Sar, there is a Roy Carroll. Finding a reliable, long-term solution in goalkeeping has often proven difficult—just ask Andre Onana.
The intense scrutiny that David De Gea faced has now shifted to the former Inter Milan goalkeeper, with doubts already emerging regarding Onana’s fit for life at Old Trafford.
Acquired by his former Ajax manager Erik ten Hag for £47.2 million in the summer of 2023—just a year after being available on a free transfer—the Cameroonian goalkeeper has had a tumultuous time in Manchester, compiling a highlight reel filled with unfortunate blunders.
Although he began the new season positively, showcasing impressive double saves against teams like Crystal Palace and Fenerbahce, the 28-year-old has recently experienced a downturn, having committed three errors that led to goals in the Premier League this season.
These difficulties, including a mistake that contributed to Brighton and Hove Albion’s third goal last month, have fueled speculation about a potential early departure for the seasoned goalkeeper, as new manager Ruben Amorim appears determined to revamp his goalkeeping lineup.
The latest on Andre Onana’s future at Man Utd
A summer of significant changes may be on the horizon, as Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst reports that the number of player departures for the Red Devils could reach double digits.
One player likely to leave is experienced goalkeeper Tom Heaton, whose contract is set to expire. Since his return in 2021, the academy graduate has only made three appearances for the first team.
This potential exit follows Luckhurst’s assertion that Amorim is interested in acquiring a new goalkeeper for the upcoming season, casting uncertainty over the futures of both Altay Bayindir and Onana.
Regarding Onana, recent reports suggest that the former Ajax star might be considering a move away from Old Trafford, with interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia.
It appears that succession plans are already in motion, as recent speculation suggests that United have made inquiries about Burnley prodigy James Trafford, who previously played for Manchester City.
The expectation is that the Englishman would command a transfer fee around £30 million, leaving United to potentially regret losing a promising alternative for free. And no, this is not about De Gea…
Man Utd have already offloaded an Onana upgrade
Significant changes may be on the horizon for the goalkeeping positions at both Manchester clubs, particularly with Ederson’s future at the Etihad in question, as the Brazilian has only one year remaining on his current contract.
In light of City’s search for a potential successor, recent reports suggest that Pep Guardiola and his team are monitoring Torino’s first-choice goalkeeper, Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, who has recently garnered attention in Serie A.
Notably, the 28-year-old, whom his manager Paolo Vanoli has labeled as “underrated,” was once part of Manchester United, having joined the club as a teenager in the summer of 2014.
After his initial signing, the young goalkeeper returned to his former club, Vojvodina, on loan for the 2014/15 season before making a permanent move to Lechia Gdansk in November 2015.
His brief stint at United was due to his inability to secure a work permit in England, leading to the club’s decision to release the towering 6-foot-8 goalkeeper without any compensation.
Nearly a decade later, Milinkovic-Savic is now excelling in Italy’s top division, having made 149 appearances for Torino since his arrival in Turin in 2017, during which he has achieved 51 clean sheets.
This season, he has particularly excelled, conceding only 31 goals in 28 league matches, while his counterpart Onana has allowed 40 goals in 29 league games back in Manchester.
| Milinkovic-Savic vs Onana vs De Gea – last 365 days | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Stat (per 90) | Milinkovic | Onana | De Gea |
| Goals against | 1.06 | 1.47 | 1.04 |
| Save percentage | 77.8% | 71.6% | 75.2% |
| Save % (penalties) | 57.1% | 10% | 66.7% |
| Clean sheet % | 36.1% | 21.3% | 34.6% |
| Touches | 47.86 | 41.60 | 34.35 |
| Avg. length of goal kicks | 56.8 | 46.6 | 45.0 |
| Crosses stopped | 6.7% | 6.6% | 2.7% |
| Defensive actions outside area | 1.28 | 0.81 | 0.65 |
| Stats via FBref | |||
As shown in the table above, the Serbian player has surpassed his United counterpart in various metrics over the past year, leading to growing interest from those at the Etihad.
The 19-cap international is not only viewed as a significant improvement over Onana, but he is also considered comparable to De Gea among goalkeepers in Europe’s top five leagues, according to FBref.
Similar to Milinkovic-Savic, the Spaniard—who also left United on a free transfer in 2023 after a 12-year tenure—has recently demonstrated impressive form with Fiorentina, as evidenced by his save percentage and goals against statistics.
The discussion regarding whether Ten Hag made the right decision in replacing De Gea with Onana will continue. Meanwhile, the Torino star is simply one of many former United goalkeepers, including Dean Henderson and Sam Johnstone, who have excelled after leaving the club.
If City’s interest materializes further, he may ultimately find himself in Manchester after all.
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