(Football news) The Cameroon international has built up a reputation for fatal mistakes ever since his arrival at Old Trafford – leading Nemanja Matic to label him one of Man United’s “worst” goalkeepers of all time earlier this week – and he was culpable yet again in Thursday’s 2-2 Europa League draw with Lyon.
Onana was at fault for both goals, including a last-minute equaliser from Rayan Cherki, as he committed his eighth and ninth errors directly leading to a goal since the start of last season.
No Premier League goalkeeper has committed more such mistakes in that timeframe, and three of those errors have come this season, the most of any goalkeeper playing in a top five European league to make at least 30 appearances in 2024-25.
As neither Altay Bayindir nor the ageing Tom Heaton are considered number one material, Man United are expected to pursue an upgrade in between the posts this summer and have been linked with a plethora of names.
Manchester United ‘in contact’ with Brighton over Bart Verbruggen move
According to multiple reports and journalists, Brighton’s Bart Verbruggen is admired by Old Trafford chiefs, who have now contacted the Seagulls to discuss the feasibility of a deal.
Verbruggen has become number one for both club and country this season, having previously had to share the gloves with Jason Steele at the Amex Stadium during the Roberto De Zerbi days.
However, the Netherlands international is Fabian Hurzeler’s main pick in between the posts and has kept eight clean sheets in 33 appearances this season, including six from 29 outings in the Premier League.
Verbruggen’s statistics are not that striking at face value, but he is nevertheless regarded as one of the most exciting up-and-coming goalkeeping prospects and is apparently valued at £60m by Brighton.
Barcelona and Bayern Munich are also rumoured to have taken an interest in Verbruggen, whose contract at the Amex Stadium runs until the end of the 2027-28 campaign.
Ruben Amorim reacts to Onana howlers in Lyon draw
While Man United should have the upper hand in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final vs. Lyon at Old Trafford, throwing away a first-leg advantage in such fashion was gut-wrenching.
Head coach Ruben Amorim was inevitably asked about Onana’s latest gaffes by TNT Sports, but the Portuguese stressed that the Cameroonian’s mistakes were also the whole team’s mistakes.
“[It is] important to focus on the next game for the league and then think about the second leg against Lyon. When one player has a mistake, all the team has a mistake so we continue like that,” Amorim said.
When asked if Onana still has his full backing, he responded: “We continue to do the same thing. Training, seeing the games, trying to choose the best eleven to win every match.”
Despite Thursday’s blunders, Onana is expected to retain his place in between the posts when Man United travel to Newcastle United in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.
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