Manchester United sent overwhelming transfer verdict they can't ignore after injury blow

Manchester United sent overwhelming transfer verdict they can't ignore after injury blow

Onana's injury may force United to go into the transfer market

Andre Onana is set for a spell on the sidelines. (Image: Manchester United/Manchester United. )

Just how Manchester United will react to the loss of Andre Onana to a hamstring injury this pre-season remains to be seen.

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It emerged last weekend the Cameroonian goalkeeper had suffered a hamstring injury in the first week of pre-season training and is not expected to play any part in the upcoming tour of the United States.

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Onana is understood to have responded well to initial treatment and will go to the US with the rest of his teammates to continue his rehabilitation, but he is poised to take up a watching brief for the friendlies against West Ham United, Bournemouth and Everton.

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As a result, Altay Bayindir is poised to step into the breach and be United's first-choice goalkeeper for the Premier League Summer Series. Despite that, it is still widely anticipated he will be sold this summer.

That is because United, as reported by the Manchester Evening News back in January, plan to recruit a new shot-stopper this summer to compete with and challenge Onana for the No.1 spot. The former Inter Milan goalkeeper has made one too many errors since arriving at Old Trafford two years ago and is under pressure to retain his place in Ruben Amorim's starting XI.

Despite attracting interest from AS Monaco, Onana has no plans to leave Old Trafford this summer and will only leave the club if United want to sell him. He reported back to Carrington last week under the impression he will remain United's No.1 this season.

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However, news of his hamstring injury means he could be in a race against time to be fit for the start of the season. United face Arsenal in their Premier League opener at Old Trafford on August 17.

Amid the increasing likelihood of him missing the entirety of pre-season, some United supporters are of the opinion the club should attempt to sign a new first-choice goalkeeper to compete with him for the starting gloves.

The Manchester Evening News recently conducted an online poll and of the 10,000 people who participated, 75 per cent said they would like United to react to Onana's injury by signing another first-choice goalkeeper to compete with him.

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Andre Onana faces a stint on the sidelines. (Image: Manchester United/Manchester United. )

Just 17 per cent said United should only move for another first-choice competitor if Onana is sold, and as few as eight per cent said they should swoop for a back-up option and sell Bayindir.

With the World Cup now less than a year away, Bayindir will have ambitions of being Turkey's starting goalkeeper in the event of them qualifying. If he is to give himself the best chance of achieving that ambition he needs to leave Old Trafford this summer in pursuit of regular first-team football.

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He has made just 11 appearances for United since arriving from Fenerbahce in September 2023 and he has rarely been convincing. He can be quite erratic and his decision-making is often questionable.

But with Onana now sidelined, United will have reservations about selling him until they can bring a new goalkeeper in. Tom Heaton currently sits third in the pecking order and can offer a wealth of experience, but he will have turned 40 by the time the 2025/26 season draws to a close.

With Amorim having decided at the very start of this calendar year that he wants to recruit a new goalkeeper that can challenge Onana for the No.1 spot, United, as per their supporters' demand, should stick with that original plan.

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Onana should benefit from an improved level of competition in reserve, meaning it could be a win-win situation for everyone. The only impact his injury might have is how quickly United speed up the process of trying to recruit a new shot-stopper.

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