United are unlikely to sign a first-choice goalkeeper this summer and will give Onana another year.placeholder image
United are unlikely to sign a first-choice goalkeeper this summer and will give Onana another year. | Manchester United via Getty Images
Man Utd will have a new no.1 this season but is selling Andre Onana a mistake?
If Manchester United want to return to winning ways, the first thing that has to be addressed is who gets to wear the no.1 shirt and be the undisputed first pick between the posts.
Was selling Andre Onana a mistake by Man Utd?
Speaking to Sky Sports News, former Wales international Robert Earnshaw has his own thoughts on who Ruben Amorim should turn to which might surprise one or two people. When asked if selling Onana was a mistake, he said: “Yes, of course it’s a risk because let’s face it he’s a very, very good goalkeeper.
“Yes, he's made mistakes but he’s a very good goalkeeper, he’s proven himself at Inter and, let’s face it, he’s also been very good at Man Utd overall. Yes, he’s made mistakes, but in terms of him going, I actually think, maybe Manchester United don’t have a choice on this one.
“Actually, think it’s Onana pushing this one other than the club, the club would probably rather he stays because I think everyone expects the new goalkeeper to come in and be number one, I actually don’t think that’s going to be the case.
“I think Lammens, I don’t think he will be the number one choice goalkeeper, I don’t think he was probably the number one choice in the transfer market in their recruitment. I actually think Bayindir will be their number one and I think he’s been hard done by here.
“Onana has clearly lost his place, Ruben Amorim has said ‘Do you know what, Altay Bayindir, you’re the number one for this season, here’s your shirt, continue playing’. I actually think the new goalkeeper is going to be second choice.”
Phil Jones names Man Utd no.1 who had ‘rhino skin’
Lammens is highly rated, but will instantly come under pressure if Amorim does pick him in the Manchester derby. Former United defender Phil Jones knows a thing or two about the qualities that are needed having played with a host of internationals behind him. Speaking to BBC Sport, Jones has named the one quality that Lammens will need, if he is to be a success: "To be the number one at United you need to have rhino skin, the Manchester United shirt is a heavy one to wear.
"What is absolutely paramount is that the goalkeeper is calm and can deal with certain situations. He needs to be commanding and not be flapping at crosses. If a goalkeeper makes a mistake, it becomes infectious very quickly and spreads through the defensive unit. If a goalkeeper made a mistake, it was almost like you couldn't get it out of your system until the next game."
"When I say rhino skin, he had it," said Jones about David de Gea who collected a series of player of the year awards and golden glove accolades during his time at Old Trafford. "It is ruthless in a way, but he almost had this ability not to care. He was quite blase about the errors he made, even in training sometimes. But when you needed him, he was there." Can Lammens be the new De Gea? Only time will tell.
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