Manchester United Set For Major Goalkeeping Shake-Up As Onana Faces Uncertain Future
Manchester United look set for a transformative summer at Old Trafford, as pressure mounts on under-fire goalkeeper Andre Onana and the club intensifies its pursuit of Parma star Zion Suzuki. With a turbulent season showing no sign of abating, the Red Devils are preparing for significant squad changes under Ruben Amorim—moves that could reshape the team’s spine and fortunes for years to come.
The goalkeeping conundrum has moved to the centre of United’s agenda after a disastrous run of form. Onana, whose tenure at Old Trafford has so far been riddled with high-profile mistakes—most recently in the Europa League quarter-final draw against Lyon—now finds his position in serious jeopardy. As pointed out by Gary Neville, “they’re so below the standard and quality that you need at that football club, all over the pitch.” Troy Deeney did not mince his words either, describing Onana’s Lyon performance as “amateur hour,” while former United man Nemanja Matic called him "one of the worst goalkeepers in Man United history."
The data reflects the criticism. Since his arrival in 2023, Onana leads all Premier League goalkeepers in errors directly resulting in goals—a stat that has left United’s fanbase and coaching staff alarmed. In Thursday’s ill-fated draw with Lyon, his mistakes gifted the French side both goals, further eroding the trust placed in him at the club. As United legend Alan Shearer put it, “they’re in desperate need of a goalkeeper…and the whole team needs fixing.”
Consequently, United’s recruitment drive has accelerated on multiple fronts. Sources report that the club has "asked for information" on Brighton’s Bart Verbruggen, an emerging Dutch shot-stopper also coveted by Bayern Munich and AC Milan. Yet it is Zion Suzuki, the £40 million-rated Parma keeper, who has become the focus of renewed attention. Still only 22, Suzuki has kept five clean sheets in 30 Serie A appearances this season and, crucially, hasn’t committed a single error leading to a goal—drawing a sharp contrast with United’s current predicament.
United’s pursuit of Suzuki is underpinned by both desperation and long-term planning. The club famously missed out on signing him in 2023, only for Suzuki to land at Parma, where his steady rise has made him one of Europe’s most coveted young keepers.
The potential reshuffling doesn't end there. With Rasumus Hojlund underwhelming up front and loan moves or swaps in the offing, United are clearly bracing for a transfer window of outsized significance. Sir Jim Ratcliffe, reputedly eyeing F1-style innovations for the club and potential left-field appointments from his Mercedes connections, seems determined to bring 21st-century efficiency to Old Trafford’s backroom.
As the season’s end looms—with United languishing 14th in the league—the imperatives are clear: bold decisions, fresh investment, and a firm managerial direction. But as Amorim, Shearer, and fans alike admit, a single transfer window won’t fix it all. “It’s a huge job, so they have to stick with him [Amorim],” Shearer observed. The upcoming weeks will determine whether United’s hierarchy truly has the resolve—and the resources—to rebuild an institution that once set the standards others sought to follow.
Will the Red Devils’ summer clear-out and goalkeeping overhaul finally spark a Manchester United revival? Or do deeper issues await beyond the arrival of new faces? Share your views and join the debate below.
