For weeks, a tense calm has settled over the corridors of Old Trafford. The season ended without success, and Manchester United continue to struggle to find a clear path toward rebuilding. Rumours of departures, replacements, and structural overhauls have been mounting. The uncertainty extends beyond the dugout and sporting hierarchy, reaching deep into key areas of the starting eleven.
One of the most scrutinised figures is André Onana, whose 2024/25 campaign was riddled with costly errors, moments of doubt, and inconsistent performances that failed to silence his critics.
According to Mick Brown, former head of scouting at Manchester United and a figure with close ties to the club, the Red Devils are seriously considering offloading Onana, provided they receive a suitable offer. Speaking to Football Insider, Brown revealed that manager Rúben Amorim is not entirely convinced by the Cameroonian’s profile or performances.
André Onana in Manchester United’s goalkeeper kit, with a faint Saudi Pro League emblem, hinting at his uncertain future
Most revealingly, United are already working on identifying his replacement. Onana himself, in recent statements, acknowledged: ‘Will I leave? I don’t know. We’ll see.’ Saudi Arabia has once again shown interest, and Manchester may be willing to listen.
“United would like to move him on if they can. There’s been a lot of talk about it, and that always comes from somewhere, whether it’s his agent or the club making it known publicly.
“If they get the opportunity to sell him for a good price, I think they will.
“But none of that matters until they get an offer for Onana, it’s a domino effect.
“If a club comes in for Onana, they’re planning to take the money and then they’ll use that money to go and sign his replacement.
“If no bid comes in, he will remain their goalkeeper next season because they won’t sign another.”
Opting for a ‘sell first, replace later’ strategy carries its own risks. The goalkeeper market is notoriously unpredictable, and suitable replacements are neither easy to find nor guaranteed to succeed. Without a concrete offer, there’s no replacement, and that uncertainty could disrupt pre-season plans and preparations.
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Can Amorim find a better goalkeeper with the funds from selling the 29-year-old? Possibly, but it’s not that simple. The goalkeeper market is narrow, and with high-profile names like Diogo Costa already in the conversation, price tags will be steep. Replacing a goalkeeper mid-summer without a solid plan in place could disrupt defensive cohesion, something United have already suffered from during the post-De Gea transition. Repeating that instability would be a costly error.
There’s still room for Onana to grow, adapt, and deliver in his second season. Sometimes, preserving continuity is more valuable than triggering another upheaval. But if Saudi clubs come knocking with a substantial offer, United will face a defining choice, one that could shape the team’s immediate future.