Manchester United have reportedly reached a verbal agreement with Trabzonspor to send goalkeeper André Onana on loan, with the 29-year-old reportedly open to completing the move before Turkey’s transfer window closes on Friday.
Onana has lost his starting spot at United this season to Altay Bayindir, featuring only in the Carabao Cup penalty shootout loss to Grimsby, where he was partly at fault for both goals in the 2-2 draw.
The terms of the loan are still being finalised, but the move comes after United strengthened their goalkeeping options by signing Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp for €21m (£18m) on Monday. With Onana, Bayindir, Heaton, and Lammens, head coach Ruben Amorim currently has four goalkeepers in the squad.
Onana’s potential loan also factors in his expected participation with Cameroon at the African Cup of Nations, which would make him unavailable for up to six weeks from mid-December. While Amorim had been comfortable with a four-keeper setup, Trabzonspor’s interest in Onana prompted consideration of the temporary move.
If the loan goes through, United may be exposed in goal, as Bayindir has only seven Premier League appearances and has been prone to errors, Heaton last played top-flight football in January 2020, and Lammens has no experience in English football.
Onana expressed confidence in his abilities, stating: “One of the best attributes you can have as a goalkeeper is staying calm under pressure, in any circumstances, even if you make a mistake… You just move on and try to give your best to the team.”
