Onana's United dream faces major obstacles
Andre Onana has not given up on his Manchester United career despite currently serving a loan spell with Turkish side Trabzonspor, though the goalkeeper acknowledges he may need to pursue opportunities elsewhere in the Premier League if his path back to Old Trafford remains blocked.
The Cameroon international endured two challenging seasons with the Red Devils, marked by inconsistent performances and high-profile errors that ultimately saw him fall out of favour under manager Ruben Amorim.
United's new goalkeeping hierarchy emerges
Manchester United's decision to allow Onana's departure came after an injury-plagued start to the season and the emergence of a new pecking order. Altay Bayindir began the campaign as first choice while Onana was sidelined, before the club further bolstered their options by signing Belgian youngster Senne Lammens.
Since Onana's loan move to Trabzonspor, which occurred after England's transfer window had closed, Lammens has established himself as United's number one, delivering impressive early performances that have solidified his position.
This development creates a significant challenge for Onana, who according to reports from iNews remains keen on resurrecting his United career once his Turkish loan concludes.
Premier League alternatives considered
Faced with the prospect of returning to Old Trafford as second choice, Onana has not ruled out engineering a move to another top-flight English club where he could secure regular first-team football.
His time in England has been difficult, with several notable mistakes costing United crucial points and ultimately leading to his demotion last season. The situation worsened when more errors occurred during United's embarrassing Carabao Cup defeat at Grimsby earlier this season, prompting the club to reconsider his position.
Despite these struggles, interest in the former Inter Milan goalkeeper has persisted from several quarters. Onana turned down a summer move to Monaco after receiving assurances from Amorim about his involvement, though the club's stance changed following the Grimsby performance.
Potential suitors remain in France, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia, presenting options for both player and club as United look to continue reducing their wage bill through player sales.
Reflecting on Onana's departure, manager Ruben Amorim commented: "We saw Andre had a very, very good season at Inter. The quality is there. But we are in the club and sometimes, in the moment, things can get harder and harder."
"You can be really experienced but in this club, the pressure is sometimes so hard on every detail. I think we understood that this needed a change. Sometimes it's hard to point why. It's the performance, the moments. The bad luck in some moments was hard on him, was hard on us. Our thinking is to have a change in the goalkeepers."
While Trabzonspor are reportedly interested in making Onana's stay permanent, the goalkeeper's focus appears firmly set on a return to English football, whether with Manchester United or another Premier League side willing to offer him the first-choice role he desires.
