Ruben Amorim has splashed £200million on a new-look frontline, but Manchester United still have not addressed the goalkeeping nightmare despite the perfect target being available
14:15, 20 Aug 2025
Cameron Winstanley
Cameron joined the Daily Star Sport team in 2023, originally as a freelancer, after graduating from the University of Brighton with a Sports Journalism degree and appearing in press boxes and press conferences for SussexLive. He has covered a vast range of sports, including on Reach PLC’s US titles, as well as the Daily Mirror and Daily Express. Cameron loves his football and is often found on non-league terraces, while also having a keen interest in Formula 1, darts, boxing, horse racing, snooker and cricket.
Gianluigi Donnarumma
Manchester United have been told to sign Gianluigi Donnarumma
Ruben Amorim has thrown £200million at Manchester United’s lifeless attack to fire them back up the right end of the Premier League.
While it didn’t get off to the perfect start against Arsenal as the Reds again failed to score at Old Trafford in the 1-0 Premier League opener defeat, there were plenty of positive signs on the pitch.
The injection of class and energy that Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo gave United was obvious, and the duo were arguably the best two players on the pitch on Sunday.
Benjamin Sesko’s introduction, although he didn’t have the blockbuster debut to remember, showed signs of the player he can become. One game won’t define United’s season, but that game in particular should define Altay Bayindir’s future at Old Trafford.
Covering for the also hapless Andre Onana, Bayindir was bullied by William Saliba for the only goal of the game, with his weak attempt at clearing a corner, only to flap the ball onto the head of Riccardo Calafiori, ultimately cost United the game.
Altay Bayindir
Altay Bayindir's horrific goalkeeping cost Manchester United
Article continues below
All too often United have been let down by their useless goalkeepers. Onana’s countless calamities in the last two years followed David De Gea’s complete loss of form in his final Old Trafford season too.
Having a world-class goalkeeper wins team’s titles, and Manchester City are set to respond to losing their grip on the Premier League by signing one of the world’s best shot stoppers.
Gianluigi Donnarumma and PSG are over after the Champions League winners signed Lucas Chevalier from Lille, and the Italian has already penned a statement to the Parisians thanking them for their support during his four years in the French capital.
Gianluigi Donnarumma of Paris Saint Germain celebrates
Gianluigi Donnarumma is leaving PSG(Image: Getty Images)
A price tag of just £40m has been slapped on the keeper that looks set to win the Yashin Trophy. The perfect answer to United’s crippling goalkeeper problems.
United legend Wayne Rooney even urged United to swoop for the Italy international, saying: "Donnarumma, I think he's 26, he's one of the best goalkeepers in the world, it would be crazy if Man United don't go for him."
However, Amorim’s staunch defence of Onana and Bayindir seemingly leaves City free to replace Ederson with Donnarumma after spending £27m to sign James Trafford.
Ruben Amorim
Ruben Amorim must sign a new goalkeeper(Image: Getty)
Speaking after the Arsenal defeat, Amorim was incensed by a question suggesting he should have started 39-year-old Tom Heaton over Bayindir, and defended Bayindir’s attempts to deal with the corner.
"It's hard to be strong when you have to push and you have to go for the ball," he insisted. "Sometimes you are pushing and then you don't have more hands to go for the ball.
"We need to be stronger in that moment, but especially, we need to do the same thing (be physical) in the opposite side (of the pitch).
Don't miss a thing with football updates!
Want to be on the ball with all of the latest football news? Well then sign up for the brilliant Daily Star Football email newsletter!
From the latest transfer news to breaking stories, get it all in your email inbox.
How do you sign up?
It only takes a matter of seconds.
Simply click on this link, then provide your email address and that's it, job done. You'll receive an email with all of the top football stories.
You can also sign up for our sport email, Off the Ball, for all the latest darts, boxing, snooker, F1 stories and more, right here
Article continues below
"We are not changing the rules, we have to adapt to the rules and today it's hard to accept because I think we were the better team."
If Pep Guardiola completes the signing of the 26-year-old, City will have two goalkeepers better than United’s No.1, possibly even third choice Stefan Ortega can make a case for himself to be a safer pair of hands than Onana.
United can throw as much money at fixing the goalscoring problem, but while soft goals are pouring in at the other end, it’s ultimately academic.