Manchester United’s lack of a reliable goalkeeper has been the elephant in the room throughout the summer transfer window, and on Sunday against Arsenal it started swinging its trunk around while making a deafening trumpet sound. Thousands of heads fell into their hands at Old Trafford when Altay Bayindir palmed Declan Rice’s corner back towards his goal-line and onto the grateful head of Ricardo Calafiori – and to think that some United fans thought that Andre Onana missing the game was a good thing!…
Bayindir’s error cost United at least a point from a game that Ruben Amorim justifiably claimed his side should have won, and thus gave the coach another strong argument to make to sporting director Jason Wilcox about the need to sign another ‘keeper. Although he would never say it publicly, it seems evident that Amorim does not truly trust Onana or Bayindir, or indeed third-choice Tom Heaton.
He did not exactly give a stern defence of Onana when he made two massive errors against ليون last season, and indeed dropped him for the following game at Newcastle to take the Cameroonian out of the firing line. Nor did Amorim properly defend Bayindir’s abilities on Sunday, only pointing to when he last faced Arsenal in January’s FA Cup tie. The Turkey goalkeeper did do himself proud that day, saving Martin Odegaard’s penalty in normal time and proving the hero in the shootout, but it was practically the only good performance he has produced since signing for United from Fenerbahce – where fans grew so frustrated with him that one hurled a water bottle at him. Bayindir has conceded 21 times in his 12 games with United, and made at least three errors that have directly led to goals.
So with just two weeks to go until the transfer window closes, BALLGM takes a look at the goalkeepers United should be looking to sign so they no longer have to rely upon Onana and Bayindir…
Manchester United’s lack of a reliable goalkeeper has been the elephant in the room throughout the summer transfer window, and on Sunday against Arsenal it started swinging its trunk around while making a deafening trumpet sound. Thousands of heads fell into their hands at Old Trafford when Altay Bayindir palmed Declan Rice’s corner back towards his goal-line and onto the grateful head of Ricardo Calafiori – and to think that some United fans thought that Andre Onana missing the game was a good thing!…
Bayindir’s error cost United at least a point from a game that Ruben Amorim justifiably claimed his side should have won, and thus gave the coach another strong argument to make to sporting director Jason Wilcox about the need to sign another ‘keeper. Although he would never say it publicly, it seems evident that Amorim does not truly trust Onana or Bayindir, or indeed third-choice Tom Heaton.
He did not exactly give a stern defence of Onana when he made two massive errors against Lyon last season, and indeed dropped him for the following game at Newcastle to take the Cameroonian out of the firing line. Nor did Amorim properly defend Bayindir’s abilities on Sunday, only pointing to when he last faced Arsenal in January’s FA Cup tie. The Turkey goalkeeper did do himself proud that day, saving Martin Odegaard’s penalty in normal time and proving the hero in the shootout, but it was practically the only good performance he has produced since signing for United from Fenerbahce – where fans grew so frustrated with him that one hurled a water bottle at him. Bayindir has conceded 21 times in his 12 games with United, and made at least three errors that have directly led to goals.
So with just two weeks to go until the transfer window closes, بالجم takes a look at the goalkeepers United should be looking to sign so they no longer have to rely upon Onana and Bayindir…
Gianluigi Donnarumma is the goalkeeper United should be looking to sign first and foremost. The Italian has won almost all the biggest trophies going for club and country, and his 6’5 frame makes him an intimidating presence at penalties, as England and ليفربول have found out to their cost in the last few years.
What’s more, Donnarumma is on the market after being ruthlessly left out of the Paris Saint-Germain squad by لويس Enrique following the signing of Lucas Chevalier.
ال إيطاليا No.1 is both highly-experienced and still has a long career ahead of him at the age of 26, but United need to move quickly if they are to land Donnarumma, as Manchester City are also paying close attention to his situation amid the growing possibility that Ederson leaves for Galatasaray.
Amorim will barely need to ask for a scouting report on Diogo Costa as he came up against the Porto goalkeeper on countless occasions during his five-year spell in البرتغال in charge of Braga and then نادي سبورتينغ لشبونة. According to several reports, the 25-year-old is Amorim’s favourite goalkeeper and the one he wants to sign if funds are made available.
Like Donnarumma, Costa boasts an incredible penalty-saving record – he became the first player to keep out three spot-kicks in a بطولة أوروبا match when Portugal beat Slovenia in Euro 2024, and also saved three consecutive kicks during the 2023-24 دوري أبطال أوروبا group stages. He also has the leadership traits that Gary Neville urged United to consider when picking a new No. 1, having been named Porto’s captain at the start of last season.
The last time Manchester United and Real Madrid tried to do a deal involving a goalkeeper, things went spectacularly wrong. Who can forget when Madrid filed the paperwork to sign David de Gea minutes after the transfer window had closed, kyboshing the Spaniard’s move to Santiago Bernabeu while subsequently blocking Keylor Navas from heading to Old Trafford?
Ten years later, though, it makes perfect sense for United to approach Real Madrid regarding Andriy Lunin. The Ukraine international admirably deputised for Thibaut Courtois throughout the 2023-24 season, only to be usurped for the Champions League final when the Belgian regained fitness. He has barely got a look-in since then and would surely favour a move to United if he could be assured he was going to be first choice.
Lunin’s years of experience with Madrid mean he would be able to handle the pressure that comes with being United’s No.1 and he would be reasonably affordable, given he has a mere £21m ($29m) release clause.
بوروسيا دورتموند goalkeeper Gregor Kobel rivals Ederson when it comes to making accurate long-range passes, although he is still best known for his ability to pull off unlikely saves, such as when he denied Eduardo Camavinga with his fingertips in the 2024 Champions League final.
The Switzerland international is a good height at 6’5, meaning he is adept at dealing with aerial threats thanks to his big frame and punching ability. Kobel would ensure that there would be no repeat of the goals United have been conceding directly from corners, and United’s interest in the 27-year-old is longstanding, with now as good a time as any for them to make a move.
United have got to know Atalanta’s directors well over the last five years after signing both Amad Diallo and Rasmus Hojlund from the Bergamo outfit, and they might want to reach out to them again to declare their interest in Marco Carnesecchi. The goalkeeper broke into the Atalanta first team in 2023-24 after cutting his teeth during consecutive loan spells outside of Serie A, but once he got his opportunity in the top-flight he grabbed it with both gloves.
Carnesecchi kept five clean sheets in Atalanta’s eight matches in the league Phase of last season’s Champions League, including shutting out Arsenal, and he played a big role in his side finishing third in Serie A, their best finish in four years.
If Amorim wants Premier League experience, then he should look no further than Nick Pope, who has been playing in England’s top-flight for the past nine years. Pope had to fight to regain his place as Newcastle’s No.1 last season after falling behind Martin Dubravka following a shoulder injury which led to him missing the second half of the 2023-24 campaign.
Dubravka’s departure to Burnley appeared to confirm that Pope had won that particular battle, although more competition has arrived in the form of Aaron Ramsdale, who has joined Newcastle on loan from ساوثهامبتون. Pope started and impressed in the opening game against Aston Villa, but his long-term future at St James’ Park remains uncertain.
His contract with Newcastle runs out next year, making Pope an affordable as well as a reliable option for United, albeit not a particularly long-term one at the age of 33.
