Manchester United have several glaring issues that need urgent attention.
The Red Devils are in desperate need of a new striker, with current options Rasmus Højlund and Joshua Zirkzee managing just five Premier League goals between them in 47 appearances this season.
Reinforcements at centre-back are also a must as Ruben Amorim’s side continue to struggle with injuries and a lack of quality, leading to cheap goals being conceded week after week.
However, perhaps their biggest concern is in goal, with André Onana failing to convince since his move from Inter in the summer of 2023.
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While the Cameroon international has shown flashes of strong shot-stopping ability, he has also been prone to costly errors – often at the worst moments, including in defeats to Bayern Munich, Brighton & Hove Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Additionally, his distribution has not been as effective as it was at Inter, and he looks increasingly shaky when dealing with high balls.
United will have to wait until the summer to find a long-term replacement for Onana, but until they do, here are eight goalkeepers who could step in and solve their problems between the sticks.
1 David de Gea Fiorentina
David de Gea was, of course, the man Onana replaced at Old Trafford, departing as a free agent just days before the Cameroonian’s arrival.
The Spaniard left United seventh in their list of all-time appearances, featuring in 545 games across all competitions, and as a four-time winner of the club’s Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award.
After spending a season without a club, De Gea joined Fiorentina last summer and has quickly re-established himself as a top goalkeeper in Serie A. He has kept seven clean sheets and ranks highly for saves made and goals-against per game, playing a key role in Fiorentina’s push for European football.
According to The Athletic, before joining La Viola, De Gea told close friends he would be open to a return to United – provided that Erik ten Hag and John Murtough were no longer at the club. Now both are gone, maybe this has paved the way for a potential return.
2 Juan Musso Atletico Madrid/Atalanta
Juan Musso is among the latest goalkeepers to be linked with a move to Manchester United.
According to reports in Spain, the Argentinian has emerged as a potential option as concerns grow over Onana’s inconsistent displays this season.
Musso, currently on loan at Atlético Madrid from Atalanta, has struggled for regular minutes behind Jan Oblak. With his future in Spain uncertain, a switch to Old Trafford could give him the opportunity for a more established role.
Though not a high-profile solution, the 30-year-old – who ranks in the 99th percentile for save percentage among goalkeepers in Europe’s top five leagues – could provide much-needed stability in the short term at the very least.
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ByBrett Worthington 3 Mike Maignan Milan
If Manchester United fans could choose Onana’s replacement, chances are Milan’s Mike Maignan would be high on most wishlists.
Since joining Milan in 2021, the France international – praised as “incredible” by national team boss Didier Deschamps – has cemented his status as one of Europe’s top goalkeepers. He has kept 55 clean sheets in 148 appearances for the Rossoneri, including 17 in his debut season to help secure the 2021/22 Serie A title.
Maignan has also earned a spot in Serie A’s Team of the Season twice and was named in the Team of the Tournament at Euro 2024, where France reached the semi-finals.
His excellent reflexes, commanding presence in the box, and consistency have made him a crucial figure for Milan and the national team, and that could yet make him a perfect fit for United, who need a reliable leader between the sticks.
4 Illan Meslier Leeds United
Leeds United’s Illan Meslier was on Man Utd’s radar in the summer of 2023, but the club ultimately opted for Onana instead.
According to reports from late last year, United have since rekindled their interest in the Frenchman, with goalkeeping scout Tony Coton reportedly a long-time admirer.
Coton has closely monitored the 24-year-old, who has made over 240 appearances for Leeds since joining from Lorient in 2019.
This season, Meslier has kept an impressive 20 clean sheets in 33 Championship games – the second-most in the division, only behind Burnley’s James Trafford.
However, despite his shot-stopping ability, he has been prone to costly errors, including a high-profile blunder against Sunderland when he let the ball slip through his legs in the final moments, gifting the opposition a draw.
If he can iron out those mistakes, he could be a strong addition for United. If not, replacing Onana with him might feel like a case of swapping one inconsistent ‘keeper for another.
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ByRoss Kilvington 5 James Trafford Burnley
Speaking of James Trafford, the Burnley shot-stopper is someone United should seriously consider as a potential replacement for Onana.
The Englishman has been outstanding in the Championship this season, keeping 24 clean sheets in 33 games while conceding just nine goals – the fewest in the division by a significant margin.
Last summer, Trafford reportedly agreed to a £16m move to Newcastle before the deal collapsed, but the Magpies are expected to reignite their interest in him this year.
While his price tag has likely risen, he could still represent a bargain, and United should have the financial muscle to compete with Newcastle for his signature.
However, the real challenge would be convincing him that Old Trafford is the right destination. With Newcastle seemingly on course for Champions League qualification while United languish in mid-table, that could prove a tough sell.
6 Senne Lammens Royal Antwerp
Royal Antwerp’s Senne Lammens has emerged as a potential option to strengthen Manchester United’s goalkeeping ranks.
At just 22, he’d be more of a long-term investment, but the Belgian has already cemented himself as Antwerp’s first-choice goalkeeper and is a regular for Belgium’s U21s, and could yet become the long-term successor to Thibaut Courtois for his nation.
Recently, he admitted that a move to Old Trafford would be difficult to turn down if the opportunity presented itself.
“I’ve only played one full season at Antwerp,” Lammens told Belgian outlet Gazet Van Antwerpen, per Sports Mole. “If something comes along that I can hardly say no to and that will benefit the club, I’ll have to think about it seriously. But if I’m the first ‘keeper here for another year, that’s no problem.”
The Antwerp star also expressed how honoured he felt to be linked with United.
“The first time I heard it, I thought, ‘Wow, a world team that follows you. That is special,'” he explained. “They are still just rumours. Those top clubs have so many scouts and follow so many players. So it doesn’t have to mean anything yet. It will only become clear in the summer whether anything comes of it.”
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1 ByCharlie Smith 7 Gregor Kobel Borussia Dortmund
Gregor Kobel has firmly established himself as one of the standout goalkeepers in the German Bundesliga since joining Borussia Dortmund in 2021.
The Switzerland international has kept 49 clean sheets in 149 appearances for BVB, including an impressive 14 in all competitions last season as the German side made it to the Champions League final.
According to reports in Spain, Kobel is now firmly on United’s radar, with the Red Devils eyeing a move for the 27-year-old in the summer.
However, the club will reportedly face competition from Chelsea for his signature, who are looking to replace a mistake-prone goalkeeper of their own in Robert Sanchez.
Boasting impressive passing numbers, and perhaps most importantly, a lack of errors, Kobel would be a massive upgrade on Onana and could provide some much-needed stability to Amorim’s backline.
Whether Dortmund would allow him to leave is another question, especially given the praise of sporting director Sebastian Kehl, who said via the Bundesliga’s official website: “In Dortmund, Gregor has developed into a goalkeeper of world-class calibre who has attracted the interest of many top clubs in Europe. We’re proud that we were able to inspire him to continue at BVB.”
8 Altay Bayindir Manchester United
If United can’t afford to wait until the summer for a new No 1, they may have to turn to an in-house solution – specifically Onana’s current backup, Altay Bayindir.
The Turkey international, who arrived from Fenerbahçe in 2023, has had limited opportunities but has shown he’s more than capable of stepping up as Ruben Amorim’s first-choice goalkeeper, even if only temporarily.
His standout moment came in January when he played a key role in knocking Arsenal out of the FA Cup.
Bayindir not only saved a penalty from Martin Ødegaard in regular time, but also made a crucial close-range stop to deny Kai Havertz late in extra time, forcing a shootout, where he saved Havertz’s penalty, earning himself the Player of the Match award.
After Onana’s costly error in a 3-1 loss to Brighton later that month, Amorim hinted at a possible change in goal, but Bayindir has yet to be given a sustained chance.
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