Exclusive: Man Utd urged to replace Andre Onana to 'move forward' as ex-Red Devil believes No. 1 is 'an outfield player who has gone in goal'

Onana has been a big disappointment for United since his £47m ($63m) move from Inter in 2023, making a number of high profile errors in his first and second seasons. The frequency of his errors has led to suggestions that coach Ruben Amorim would like a different goalkeeper next season and former United defender Paul Parker has urged the Portuguese to make a change.

Parker, speaking exclusively to Goal.com via Betsson, the home of odds, said: "I have to say that they do need a new goalkeeper. If they’re going to move forward next season, they need players, fans and everyone to be confident in one of the most important players on the pitch; the goalkeeper. Top sides always have a top goalkeeper that they are assured with, and Onana is not that goalkeeper. I can’t see how he’s going to cover up what he did last season, and I just really don’t believe that he can. If I don’t believe as someone watching, I worry what the players in the team are thinking. If you don’t believe in your goalkeeper and you’ve got that fear factor, it will cost you."

Onana made two slip ups in the Europa League quarter-final first leg with Lyon, a day after being told by Nemanja Matic that he was "one of the worst goalkeepers in the history of Manchester United". He also made costly mistakes in United's defeats by Brighton & Hove Albion, Nottingham Forest and Wolves and Parker believes his defenders no longer trust him. "I believe they are there [not trusting him] and that is how it went last season – you didn’t know what was going to happen next, what he was going to do."

Parker believes Onana lacks basic goalkeeping qualities and focuses too much on playing out from the back with his feet. He added: "All you want a goalkeeper to do is save the ball. I don’t want a keeper with great feet, and if you’ve got great feet, go be an outfield player. Focus on just stopping as many shots as possible. And if Onana’s saving shots, don’t just throw it back out to people’s feet. I question if he was born a goalkeeper. I think he was an outfield player that has gone in goal. He wasn’t a goalkeeper from day one. The only thing he really hasn’t done, is become a goalkeeper. I don’t care what he did at Ajax or Inter; he’s not good enough to play at Manchester United."

Aston Villa and Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has been suggested as a potential target for United and Parker believes he would be a big upgrade on the Cameroon international. And he likened the World Cup winner to his old team-mate Peter Schmeichel. He said: "I would be a fool if I said anything different other than it would be a massive upgrade. A keeper’s presence makes such a difference to a back four, and I was lucky that I played with Dave Seaman at QPR and big Pete. You knew they would let goals in, but they would make it difficult and the way that they would react after would let you know. I don’t see the same reaction from Onana, because generally he has his head down because he’s made a mistake. It’s a big issue and United don’t look like they’re doing anything about it. At this moment, the manager looks like he’s gonna have to start the season with the same players that failed him last season."