Manchester United were heavily linked with Amadou Onana before his move to Aston Villa but it is not too late for Ineos to reignite interest in 2026.
Back in 2024, Manchester United were linked with Amadou Onana, but he ended up leaving Everton to sign for Aston Villa in a £50 million deal.
Onana explained why he joined Villa over United, citing their growth under Unai Emery and their participation in the Champions League.
On Sunday afternoon, United host Villa at Old Trafford and it is a crucial clash for Champions League qualification with both clubs tied for points in third.
Amadou Onana playing against Bayern Munich for Aston Villa
Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images
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Amadou Onana is the perfect Casemiro replacement
Ineos’ top transfer priority in 2026 is finding a replacement for Casemiro following his announcement that he is leaving at the end of the season.
Premier League experience is key, so Elliot Anderson, Adam Wharton and Carlos Baleba have emerged as top targets, but reigniting interest in Onana could be a smart move for Ineos.
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As per Yahoo Sports, Onana has one of the highest success rates in duels of any midfielder in the Premier League. A success rate of 79.42% was only beaten by Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch.
Casemiro has been dominating duels for United this season, so Ineos must make sure whoever replaces him is capable of being a midfield bruiser. Onana certainly fits the bill.
On Sunday, Onana will go head-to-head with Casemiro, and it is a chance for the 24-year-old to impress in front of United’s transfer chiefs at Old Trafford. Considering Villa’s tight financial situation, they could be open to selling in the summer and a move for Onana makes sense for Ineos.
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Amadou Onana can match Casemiro’s aerial presence
This season, Casemiro has scored six goals for United, matching his best-ever goalscoring season for Real Madrid with nine games still remaining.
Casemiro has proven he is a huge aerial threat, specifically from set pieces. United boast one of the best set piece records in the Premier League, but that will be under threat once Casemiro leaves.
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It’s essential that whoever replaces Casemiro has the same aerial presence in both boxes, and Onana, standing at 6ft 5in, means he is more than capable.
As per Squawka, Onana is also dominant in the air with a 71.4% aerial duel success rate – a stat only bettered by Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk in the Premier League.
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