André Onana doesn’t seem to have a place at Old Trafford anymore. He was brought in back in 2023 for €53 million after a standout spell with Inter Milan, but things never really clicked for the Cameroonian goalkeeper at Manchester United. Costly mistakes turned into a pattern, leading to goals conceded and even painful eliminations. Patience inside the club has worn thin. Two years after spending big, United moved to strengthen the position by signing Senne Lammens and agreed on a verbal deal to loan Onana to Trabzonspor. The final call is now up to the player, though all signs point toward a departure.
The drop in confidence
Onana was meant to be David de Gea’s replacement, stepping into the shoes of one of the greatest goalkeepers in United’s history. It was never going to be easy, but the immediate pressure from fans only made it tougher. On the field, he stumbled through a series of mistakes in high-profile Premier League games, along with shaky cup performances. The low point came in the Carabao Cup, when United were knocked out on penalties by fourth-division Grimsby Town. That night summed up the frustration, and once again, Onana was in the spotlight for the wrong reasons.
The situation escalated to a stage where the club just couldn’t wait any longer. Spending €21 million on Lammens, a move backed by fellow Belgian Thibaut Courtois, makes it obvious the board is already preparing for life without Onana. At 22, Lammens isn’t being treated as a project for the future. He’s expected to compete for the starting spot right away.
The loan to Trabzonspor
Reports from Fabrizio Romano say Manchester United and Trabzonspor already have a verbal agreement in place for Onana’s loan. The Turkish side, currently in talks to sell Ugurcan Cakir to Galatasaray, sees the Cameroonian as the ready-made replacement. There’s no purchase obligation included, which tells you United mainly wants him out of the picture for now without locking themselves into a permanent move.
Even though in interviews there was talk of him staying put, behind the scenes Onana has been told the club won’t stand in his way if he chooses to go. With the transfer window closing on September 12, the deal looks set to be completed before the deadline.