Edwin van der Sar surprisingly backs Andre Onana to be Man Utd's No.1 goalkeeper 'for a very long time' despite error-strewn performances

Since joining the Red Devils from Inter for £48m ($59m), Onana has faced criticism for his inconsistent performances. While he has been impressive in some matches, his high-profile errors in crucial encounters have left fans questioning whether he is the right man to lead United’s defence in the long run.

Onana's latest mishaps came in a recent home defeat against Brighton. He failed to deal with a cross from Kaoru Mitoma, which allowed Brighton to score their second goal. Later in the game, he spilled a low cross that gifted Georginio Rutter an easy finish to secure the victory for the visitors.

Despite mounting criticism, Van der Sar remains confident in Onana’s abilities and believes the 28-year-old will only get better with experience.

Speaking on behalf of bet365, he said: "I think that it's quite early but Andre [Onana] has a fantastic career in front of him. He's gaining more experience. He has all the qualities that a goalkeeper needs so I'm sure for the next five to six years he will keep improving. He has the right attitude to be the goalkeeper for Man United for a very long time.”

Van der Sar’s confidence in Onana comes at a time when reports suggest United are considering signing another goalkeeper to provide competition and have been linked with Borussia Dortmund's Gregor Kobel. While the Dutchman does not believe a new goalkeeper is a priority, he has suggested that strengthening the attacking and midfield positions should be United’s main focus in the upcoming transfer window.

“Manchester United need consistent performances," he said. "This year getting back into the Champions League is probably not going to happen - the top four is too far away with too many teams in front. With a good pre-season and one or two quality signings up front and maybe in midfield, United should be fine to challenge for those positions again. In terms of signings, nowadays they have good people on board, technical people. I'm sure they are qualified to get the right people in the door.”

Van der Sar was speaking on behalf of bet365, Official Global Partner of the UEFA Champions League. To celebrate the partnership, bet365 is giving away free tickets to the knockout phases as part of The Big UEFA Champions League ticket giveaway. Visit www.bet365.com for more information.

Onana was rested for United’s recent Europa League match against FCSB, with Amorim opting to rotate his squad and hand a start to Altay Bayindir. However, he is expected to reclaim his starting spot for United’s upcoming Premier League clash against Crystal Palace on Sunday.