Manchester United are facing a goalkeeping crisis as they continue their search for a replacement for David de Gea. The club had a bid for Inter Milan’s Andre Onana turned down, leaving them without a No1 goalkeeper for the upcoming season. With De Gea’s contract expiring in the summer and no extension being signed, United are now left to consider their options.
United had lodged an opening bid of £39m for Onana, but the Italians are demanding £51.4m for the Cameroonian shot-stopper. This means that United have fallen short of Inter Milan’s demands and will need to reassess their options. The club’s pre-season campaign is set to kick off in Oslo next Wednesday against Leeds, followed by a tour of America starting on July 20. However, their goalkeeping situation remains unresolved.
One potential option for United is Dean Henderson, who spent last season on loan with Nottingham Forest. The 26-year-old goalkeeper played a crucial role in helping Forest avoid relegation and manager Steve Cooper is believed to want him on a permanent deal. Henderson has also expressed his desire for first-team football, leaving both United and the player with a decision to make. However, Henderson is currently carrying a thigh injury that is expected to rule him out for the start of pre-season.
With Henderson sidelined, veteran goalkeeper Tom Heaton, 37, is the only senior keeper fit and is likely to start in Oslo. Heaton will be joined by Matej Kovar, Nathan Bishop, and Radek Vitek as United continue their search for a new No1 goalkeeper.
In a surprising turn of events, United have asked De Gea not to join another club as they continue their search for a replacement. The club is effectively asking him to hang around in case they cannot find a suitable goalkeeper within their transfer budget. However, De Gea has been linked with moves to Fenerbahce in Turkey and even Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
As United navigate their goalkeeping crisis, fans are eagerly awaiting news of any potential takeover. Stay up to date with all the latest purchase and transfer news from Old Trafford.
In conclusion, Manchester United find themselves without a No1 goalkeeper after David de Gea’s contract expired without an extension being signed. Their bid for Andre Onana was turned down, leaving them to consider their options. Talks with Dean Henderson are set to take place, but his thigh injury may rule him out for the start of pre-season. Tom Heaton is currently the only senior keeper fit and is expected to start in Oslo. As United continue their search for a new goalkeeper, they have asked De Gea not to join another club. The club’s goalkeeping situation remains unresolved as they prepare for their summer pre-season campaign.