Ruben Amorim is reportedly weighing up whether to drop Andre Onana for Manchester United’s upcoming trip to Newcastle. The goalkeeper made two costly mistakes against Lyon on Thursday, and although he received public backing from Amorim and his team-mates, he could be taken out of the firing line and replaced by back-up stopper Altay Bayindir.
Onana hit back at Lyon star Nemanja Matic leading up to the match after the Serb called him ‘one of the worst United keepers ever’. But Matic had the last laugh, as Onana made mistakes leading to both Lyon goals in a 2-2 draw, leaving the Red Devils with work to do at Old Trafford next week.
According to The Daily Mail, the noise surrounding Onana’s latest howlers could force a change between the sticks. Amorim is ‘considering’ a start for Bayindir at St. James’ Park as part of numerous planned alterations for the Premier League clash.
Whether that will lead to Onana being bench-bound for the rest of the season remains to be seen. Bayindir has not made a Premier League appearance in nearly two years at United, with all seven of his total games coming in cup competitions.
But Onana’s situation has become so desperate that his place in the starting line-up is now in jeopardy. Amorim said after the Lyon match, in which United surrendered the lead in the 95th minute, “We have to face Newcastle with a team that can be competitive to win the game.
“Sometimes winning games is the best way of preparing for the next one. Of course, I am going to be careful with some players but again we need to be competitive.”
United chiefs are expected to revamp Amorim’s goalkeeper options during the summer transfer window. The club have been linked with Borussia Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel and Brighton’s Bart Verbruggen, but other names could enter the fray as conversations intensify.
Onana is not the only one under pressure. Bayindir may also be playing for his Old Trafford future, as scouts are believed to have been keeping an eye on Preston’s Freddie Woodman and Blackburn’s Aynsley Pears.
Both keepers fit the mould of a domestic deputy for whichever stopper is given United’s No. 1 jersey next season, but Bayindir could deter bosses from bringing in a new back-up if he performs well in Onana’s absence.