Manchester United have often spent big over the last couple of years in an attempt to land the calibre of players needed to mount a Premier League title charge.
The hierarchy have splashed around £800m on new additions in the last three years alone, but the Red Devils only have an FA Cup triumph to show for their heavy spending.
Ruben Amorim is the latest manager to try his luck at Old Trafford, leading to £200m being spent throughout the summer window to try and correct the 15th-place finish achieved last campaign.
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim
Any successful side in England’s top-flight need to balance the books and offload players to allow for heavy spending - not to mention avoiding any financial implications.
However, the hierarchy will be extremely lucky to get the money back they spent on Andre Onana, given his embarrassing stint at the club over the last few years.
Andre Onana’s decline at Manchester United
As part of United’s heavy spending in recent years, goalkeeper Onana moved to Old Trafford in a deal worth around £47.2m, including add-ons from Serie A side Inter Milan back in the summer of 2023.
Many supporters viewed the Cameroonian as the long-term solution to the situation between the sticks - coming in to replace David de Gea after the Spaniard was released after a decade at the club.
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The last two years for the 29-year-old have been disastrous, subsequently registering nine errors leading to goals, resulting in the side dropping points in key moments, whether it be the Premier League or in European competition.
Last season alone, Onana notched six errors, including the Europa League final, where he failed to keep out Brennan Johnson’s effort - resulting in Tottenham Hotspur winning the final in Bilbao.
His only outing this campaign for Amorim’s side was the Carabao Cup clash against Grimsby Town, conceding twice and arguably being at fault for both of the hosts’ goals that night.
Altay Bayindir has since been the number one for the Red Devils, but that could be about to change given the summer arrival of Senne Lammens from Belgian side Royal Antwerp.
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Senne Lammens for Royal Antwerp.
Onana also looks set to leave Old Trafford in the coming days, after the club and player agreed a transfer to join Turkish side Trabzonspor on loan for the remainder of the 2025/26 campaign.
Despite the English window being shut, another player should be pushed closer to the exit door, given his lack of impact at the club over the last couple of months.
The United player who should leave alongside Onana
Kobbie Mainoo is another player currently at United who has struggled for game time under Amorim - only starting the cup game against Grimsby, just like Onana.
kobbie-mainoo-united
The academy graduate was a player with huge potential during 2023/24, even scoring in the FA Cup final, but it’s safe to say his career has failed to take off since Amorim’s appointment.
He only started 50% of the league games last campaign, also yet to get off the mark in 2024/25, leading to the player himself requesting a move away from the club this summer.
However, he stayed put at his boyhood club beyond the end of the transfer window, but he will need to fight for his place if he is to become a regular starter once again.
He’s not alone in struggling to make an impact, with Dutch international Joshua Zirkzee also a player who’s failed to meet expectations since his own move to the Theatre of Dreams.
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Zirkzee
The 24-year-old joined the club from Bologna in a £36.5m transfer in the summer of 2023, but he’s only managed seven goals in his 51 appearances - just three of which have been in the Premier League.
Like Mainoo, he’s also yet to start in the league this campaign, with his only outing in England’s top-flight coming as a substitute in the 3-2 win over Burnley before the international.
His lack of action is no surprise to anyone, given his lack of form, coupled with the new additions in the attacking department, leading to one content creator claiming he looks like he’s now playing in “Sunday League."
Zirkzee’s underlying stats highlight his lack of impact, only completing 72% of his passes and winning just 29% of the aerials he entered, subsequently unable to make much of a tangible impact - as seen by his lack of goals.
Joshua Zirkzee - PL stats (2024/25)
Statistics (per 90)
Games played
Goals & assists
Pass accuracy
Chances created
Dribbles completed
Aerials won
Shots on target
Possession lost
Stats via FotMob
He also only completed 31% of his dribbles and lost possession 2.9 times per 90 - further showcasing his lack of positive impact when featuring for the Red Devils.
Given his lack of minutes, coupled with his poor displays, the club should be looking to move the former Bayern Munich star on over the next couple of months.
The arrivals of players such as Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo have undoubtedly pushed the Dutchman further down the pecking order - with the hierarchy desperately needing to cut their losses.