The Cameroonian goalkeeper’s exclusion from the Red Devils’ squad to play Newcastle United raises questions about Andre Onana’s future at Manchester United. Days after a disastrous performance against Lyon in the UEFA Europa League, Ruben Amorim decided to leave the 29-year-old at home.
Onana’s problems between the sticks seem to be primarily related to his level of confidence. The former Inter Milan player hasn’t been able to replicate the form he had abroad after being signed in 2023 to replace David De Gea as a ball-playing modern custodian.
The United supporters have been unhappy for months due to numerous mistakes that resulted in goals, and if his luck doesn’t improve soon, his tenure at Old Trafford may be coming to an end. Five players, listed from worst to best, have been connected to the Red Devils’ possible upcoming goal vacancy.
Ranking Elements
Experience in the top leagues in Europe
International experience
Enter the statistical statistics for the 2024–2025 season (clean sheets, save percentages, etc.).
5.
Lammens Senne, Royal Antwerp
If Onana is let go, there are reportedly a lot of names being considered for the role, including Belgian custodian Senne Lammens. In the 6-1 aggregate victory over Ukraine in the UEFA Nations League, the 22-year-old earned his debut for the Belgian national team by filling in for Thibaut Courtois.
In 31 games this season, he has kept six league clean sheets for Royal Antwerp in the Belgian Pro League. In the English top division, Lammens has an outstanding save rate of 77.8%, which is far greater than Onana’s 68%.
4. Bart Verbruggen
Brighton
The Brighton & Hove Albion star’s advantage is that he is one of just two players on this list with Premier League experience. At the international level, he plays with players like Frenkie De Jong and Virgil van Dijk and is the top player for the Netherlands.
Verbruggen is only 22 years old, therefore there is still much space for progress, but he possesses all the fundamentals of a contemporary custodian. He is a strong goalie, confident with the ball at his feet, and dominating in his penalty area. Verbruggen is regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League, despite his recent slumps in performance at the Amex. He is reportedly on the Red Devils’ shortlist of possible goalkeeping targets.
3. James Trafford
Burnley
Given that Burnley dropped to the Championship in the 2023–2024 season, James Trafford might have had a difficult debut season in the Premier League. But in the second-tier tournament, the English glovesman has made a big turnaround in his fortunes.
With five games left in the 2024–25 Championship campaign, the youthful player has now kept an incredible 28 clean sheets. With Trafford’s contributions being crucial, Scott Parker’s team appears poised to immediately return to the top division. His two penalty saves against Wilson Isidor of Sunderland in a single game were his defining moment.
2 LOC Lille, Lucas Chevalier
Along with Verbruggen and Lammens, Lucas Chevalier of LOSC Lille has been identified as one of the goalkeepers the Old Trafford team is monitoring. The 23-year-old Frenchman has made more than 100 appearances and has performed well this season.
Given that the goalie is reportedly drawing interest from a number of European powerhouses and may even be considered to replace his injured countryman Mike Maignan at AC Milan, his price tag is anticipated to be high. Lille made it to the knockout stages this season and is now fighting for Champions League qualifying once more.
Given their obvious working relationship with the Ligue 1 team, United may benefit from Leny Yoro’s arrival in 2024. The Red Devils, who most likely won’t be participating in Europe’s top league, may face fierce competition from teams like Manchester City, Newcastle United, and Paris Saint-Germain, according to The Mirror.
1 FC Porto Diogo Costa
The perfect arrival for the Red Devils when it comes to the goalkeeper position would be the man connected alongside Onana to replace David De Gea in 2023. Diogo Costa has been one of the top ‘keepers in world football for some time now after catching the eye for FC Porto, and subsequently the Portugal national side.
His penalty shootout exploits allowed the Portuguese get over Slovenia to reach the quarter-finals of Euro 2024. A confident ball-playing goalie who can keep the ball out of the net with solid shot-stopping talents is exactly what every modern football team desires.
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Costa has been in fantastic form this season, keeping 18 clean sheets in 40 outings for his team. Meanwhile, he has strengthened his position as his country’s number one and doesn’t appear like forfeiting the jersey anytime soon. After previously choosing Onana over Costa, GIVEMESPORT sources disclosed in February that interest in the latter was still alive.
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