Manchester United may bid farewell to several players if Andre Onana moves to Old Trafford.
Manchester United has reportedly made the decision to part ways with David De Gea as manager Erik Ten Hag seeks a new option for the goalkeeper position. Despite De Gea accepting a pay cut and finding common ground with the club regarding a new contract, Manchester United swiftly identified Andre Onana as a potential replacement for De Gea in goal. Ten Hag, who previously worked with Onana at Ajax, is keen to bring his former protégé to Old Trafford.
According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, while Onana is ready to move to Old Trafford, Manchester United and Inter Milan are also nearing an agreement in a deal worth a total of €60 million. Once Onana arrives, it is expected that three players will swiftly depart from Old Trafford.
Firstly, there is the case of Tom Heaton, the only goalkeeper currently in Manchester United's first team who could see playing time. According to sources from The Athletic, Luton Town, a recently promoted Premier League team, has plans to acquire the English star. However, Manchester United has prevented this move due to the unsettled goalkeeper position.
In reality, Heaton's presence at Old Trafford can be considered symbolic. In his two seasons at Manchester United, he has only made three appearances across all competitions. Therefore, it is not unlikely that this goalkeeper is also eager to seek a new destination for more regular playing opportunities.
Next is Dean Henderson, who is still working to return to the field after undergoing thigh surgery. The English star suffered a serious injury in the latter stages of the season and remained sidelined until its conclusion. However, Henderson's impressive performances prior to the injury have convinced Nottingham Forest to plan for a permanent acquisition of the player.
However, the aforementioned deal depends entirely on Onana. If the Cameroonian star cannot move to Old Trafford, sources from The Athletic assert that Manchester United will seriously consider Henderson as the number one goalkeeper. But if the Red Devils secure Onana, it is highly likely that Henderson will depart as he does not have plans to be a backup at Old Trafford.
Lastly, there is the case of Nathan Bishop, who has already turned 23 but has yet to be given a chance in Manchester United's first team. Currently, Bishop is being targeted by Sunderland, but it is expected that he will have to wait until Manchester United finds a solution for their number one goalkeeper position next season before having the opportunity to leave Old Trafford.
In the event of parting ways with Heaton, Henderson, and Bishop, Manchester United is likely to pursue another quality goalkeeper to provide cover for Onana. Journalist Fabrizio Romano confirms that Japanese goalkeeper Zion Suzuki is currently of special interest to the Red Devils.
