Andre Onana brutally told his 'time is up' at Man Utd as Ruben Amorim urged to consider shock David de Gea homecoming transfer

In 2022-23, De Gea played a pivotal role in securing a third-place finish in the Premier League for Man Utd and their run to glory in the Carabao Cup. He was still at the top of his game statistically, yet United let his contract run down, and he spent the next year out of the game before joining Fiorentina. On Saturday, the United faithful finally had the chance to say goodbye to De Gea, who was replaced in the Old Trafford net by Onana.

When United shelled out £47 million ($63m) to bring in the Cameroon international from Inter Milan, the move was sold as an upgrade, with Onana seen as a modern keeper who could play out from the back and revolutionise their build-up play. Instead, his two campaigns have been littered with high-profile errors, sloppy shot-stopping, and moments that have left fans questioning why a club icon was so hastily discarded.

In an interview with BettingLounge.co.uk, former Premier League striker Matt Jansen summed up the growing sentiment in uncompromising fashion: "They [United] won’t succeed until they change the goalkeeper, in my opinion. They were trying to go for Emiliano Martinez at Aston Villa, he’d be an improvement. Honestly, you could name half a dozen keepers who would be better than Onana.

"He hasn’t done well. Maybe even David de Gea could come back and still do a job. But it’s clear they need to make a change at the goalkeeper position, it hasn’t worked with Onana, and his time is up. They never should’ve let De Gea go. That was a strange decision, and they’ve paid the price for it."

It’s no secret that United have been weighing up alternative No.1s this summer. World Cup winner Martinez reportedly remains a target, while PSG star Gianluigi Donnarumma is also understood to be on the recruitment shortlist. The speculation intensified when Onana picked up a hamstring injury during pre-season, briefly sidelining him and leaving United scrambling to cover the position. However, it has been suggested that the Red Devils will pause their pursuit of a new 'keeper unless they are able to find a lucrative suitor for Onana. 

Onana is expected to be fit in time for United’s 2025-26 Premier League opener, a blockbuster home clash against familiar rivals Arsenal on August 17. Whether that will be the start of his redemption arc or simply the beginning of the end remains to be seen.