‘Look who’s back!’ - Will Man Utd re-sign David de Gea when Andre Onana is away on AFCON duty with Cameroon? Dwight Yorke offers his take on goalkeeper transfer poser

Former Red Devils striker Yorke was among those to warn Erik ten Hag and Co. against a transfer gamble on Cameroon international Onana before a £48 million ($61m) deal was done with Inter. He arrived in England with United being told to expect “mistakes”, and that has been the case through the early part of his time at Old Trafford.

Spanish shot-stopper De Gea, who made history across his 12 years with United by breaking their all-time clean sheet record and collecting four Player of the Year awards, is still available after being released into the free agent pool. The 33-year-old has been linked with teams in Saudi Arabia and MLS, but is yet to make a decision on his future.

Quizzed on the chances of United making a “look who’s back” announcement while Onana is away on Africa Cup of Nations duty, Yorke – speaking in association with Footy Accumulators – told GOAL: “I think re-signing David de Gea would be a really smart move. I don’t think it will happen though as it would rub salt in the wounds of the manager who let him go. My question is what is the point of having a number two at the club? They’ve done it with Dean Henderson and there’s a reason why there’s a number two at the club. You’ve got to give these guys an opportunity to trust them. They’re training every day and trying to be elite, first-team goalkeepers so I’m not sure why they allowed Dean Henderson to go away. You’ve got to give these kids chances in life and it’s for me to say on the outside, but you don’t know until you put them in. If you have an injury during the game, what are you going to do, not put the number two in? They have their current keeper Altay Bayindir on the bench and he never gets a chance. This is what I don’t understand and he may as well not be there! It just doesn’t make any sense and it’s beyond me how the manager can think that way.”

Turkey international Bayindir is yet to make his competitive debut for United, having been snapped up from Fenerbahce in the summer of 2023. His opportunity will come, however, if De Gea is not drafted back in and cover is required for Onana as he goes in search of continental glory with his country in the Ivory Coast.