A former Manchester United player has urged Ruben Amorim to take action over the club's goalkeeper crisis, suggesting Tom Heaton would serve best as a short-term solution
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim talks to media during a press conference
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim is facing a big problem with his goalkeepers
(Image: Yu Chun Christopher Wong/Manchester United via Getty Images)
Ruben Amorim has been told he faces a huge dilemma following Altay Bayindir's error in Manchester United's defeat to Arsenal.
It follows calls from former United star Ben Foster for experienced shot-stopper Tom Heaton to be given his first Premier League start in more than five years. The club's goalkeeping crisis took a turn for the worse on Sunday as Turkey international Bayindir flapped at a first-half corner, allowing Riccardo Calafiori to head home the only goal of the game for the Gunners.
United's regular No. 1 Andre Onana was absent after missing pre-season through injury, and has attracted constant criticism for his own performances since joining in July 2023. Amorim got defensive when asked after the match if veteran shot-stopper Heaton, who impressed during the summer friendlies, should have started instead of Bayindir.
However, ex-United and Wrexham keeper Ben Foster believes that would be the best solution for now to ease the club's issues in goal. That's despite the 39-year-old former Burnley star not featuring in the Premier League since the start of 2020.
While Foster reckons Heaton would be the most suitable short-term option, he has reiterated his recent plea for United to go out and sign either Emiliano Martinez or Gianlugii Donnarumma before the summer transfer window shuts in less than a fortnight. He warned that failing to do so could risk Amorim suffering another disappointing campaign.
Speaking on his Fozcast podcast, former England international Foster said: "This is a massive problem for the next game. It asks all sorts of questions and there's going to be so much talk surrounding it coming into that next game.
Tom Heaton
Ben Foster wants to see Tom Heaton start for United in the short term
"Do you start with Bayindir, whose confidence will be low now after the first game? With Onana, people will be going, 'Well, he's not much better.' There's a lot of pressure. Tom Heaton, I would trust him to give me a six-and-a-half out of 10 performance.
"It just forces Man United's hand to go and sign a proper goalkeeper. I think if you can get a Martinez or a Donnarumma, you've just got to do it. If you sign that player, it's going to be the difference between mid-table misery or really pushing for that top six."
Despite United's woes in goal, Amorim declared himself content with his current options when asked about the situation after the Arsenal game.
Altay Bayindir reacts after conceding against Arsenal
Altay Bayindir has come under fire over his error against Arsenal
He said: "I'm happy with the three goalkeepers. He [Bayindir] chooses to get the ball, but he's getting pushed. That is my feeling when I see the play.
"You choose to push a player [out of the way] or to get the ball in that moment. He needs to use his hands to catch the ball, not push players. He chooses to push players and will let the ball pass."
Meanwhile, Rio Ferdinand is another ex-United player who has offered a damning verdict on Bayindir's performance during the club's opening Premier League fixture at Old Trafford.
Speaking on Rio Presents, the United legend admitted he holds major doubts about the former Fenerbahce keeper.
"What I would say is that it was a cheap goal," he said. "We gave away a goal. The keeper has got to be better. He'll be hugely disappointed, because this was his chance.
"The manager has gone with him and backed him and he's had, really, one thing to do in his penalty area and he didn't pass the test."
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