Journalist: Manchester United change stance on summer goalkeeper plans | OneFootball

Andre Onana Set to Retain No.1 Role at Manchester United Despite Injury Setback

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Andre Onana is expected to remain Manchester United’s first-choice goalkeeper for the 2025/26 campaign, despite suffering a hamstring injury during the early stages of pre-season.

The Cameroonian, who endured a turbulent debut season marked by a series of high-profile errors, picked up the knock as United’s players returned to Carrington for pre-season training. Nonetheless, Onana is scheduled to travel with Erik ten Hag’s squad on their upcoming tour of the United States, although he is unlikely to feature on the pitch.

Bayındır to Start as United Search for Reinforcements

In Onana’s absence, Turkish international Altay Bayındır is set to deputise as the club’s No.1 throughout their Stateside fixtures. The 26-year-old, signed from Fenerbahçe last summer, made just a single appearance last season but is now presented with a key opportunity to stake his claim ahead of the new campaign.

United had explored several goalkeeping options earlier this summer, with Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martínez among the names discussed internally. However, sources indicate the club have re-evaluated their priorities, concluding that other areas of the squad — notably central midfield and the forward line — are in more urgent need of reinforcements.

Onana Backed to Start vs Arsenal

According to The i Paper, senior figures at Old Trafford still have faith in Onana’s long-term potential and are hopeful he will be fit in time for United’s Premier League opener against Arsenal on 17 August at the Emirates Stadium.

Despite backing Onana for the start of the season, the club is expected to remain active in the goalkeeper market over the coming six weeks, with recruitment staff continuing to monitor both experienced names and emerging talents across Europe.

Strategic Patience Amid Squad Rebuild

With financial fair play constraints and the INEOS-led structural overhaul influencing the club’s transfer activity, United’s decision to persevere with Onana for now may reflect a broader emphasis on continuity, particularly in goal.

The 28-year-old, who arrived from Inter Milan for £47.2m last summer, endured a tough acclimatisation period in the Premier League. Yet internally, there is still a belief that with a more settled defensive unit and clear tactical structure, Onana’s distribution and shot-stopping attributes can become a key asset in Ten Hag’s system.

Mixed Shot-Stopping Returns

André Onana’s shot-stopping metrics paint a picture of inconsistency over the last 365 days. His Save Percentage (62nd percentile) and Save Percentage on Penalty Kicks (50th percentile) rank around the Premier League average, suggesting competence but not elite-level reflexes. However, he drops into the bottom half for PSxG minus Goals Allowed (37th percentile), an advanced metric that measures how many goals a keeper prevents relative to expected goals on target faced. That figure, alongside a 43rd percentile mark for general save percentage, underscores that while Onana isn’t underperforming drastically, he’s not providing the overperformance fans expect from a Manchester United No. 1. These numbers confirm the narrative around his erratic debut season — one where confidence seemed to ebb and flow under the spotlight.

Strong Distribution, Especially from Goal Kicks

Where Onana does excel is in his distribution style, a key reason why Erik ten Hag brought him to Old Trafford. The radar shows he ranks in the 76th percentile for Launch % from Goal Kicks and 65th for Average Goal Kick Length, both indicating a tendency — and ability — to execute longer distribution when required. His general Launch % (42nd percentile) and Average Pass Length (35th percentile) are lower, suggesting a mix of short and long passing outside set plays. This reflects Ten Hag’s possession-focused build-up style, where Onana is comfortable playing short under pressure. His launched pass completion rate (15th percentile), however, is a clear weak spot. Despite having the technical range to go long, accuracy and decision-making under pressure need refinement — especially against teams pressing high.

Concerns with Handling and Crosses

The radar reveals one of Onana’s more glaring deficiencies: Pass Completion Percentage when Launched (15th percentile), which ties into a broader concern with Handling and Cross Management. His Crosses Stopped % also sits in the 37th percentile, suggesting a lack of dominance in the air — a worrying trend in a physically intense Premier League. Similarly, his overall impact in high-pressure box situations falls short of what United supporters have come to expect from past keepers. These figures validate why some within the club considered reinforcements this summer, even if other priorities have taken precedence. For Onana to silence critics and cement his long-term future at Old Trafford, tangible improvements in aerial command and decision-making under pressure are vital heading into the 2025/26 season.