Man United need to invest in a new goalkeeper this summer to stand any chance of making the progress that they hope to.
If ever you needed proof that Manchester United should be on the hunt for a new goalkeeper this summer, their 62nd and final match of the 2022/23 campaign provided it.
As Manchester City’s second choice shot-stopper, Stefan Ortega, produced a solid and commanding performance at one end of Wembley, David de Gea, not for the first time, wilted at the other. He should have done better to prevent Ilkay Gundogan from scoring his second and what turned out to be the winning goal in the FA Cup final.
Gundogan’s effort trickled into the bottom corner and De Gea should have reacted quicker to get across and keep it out. The power of the City captain’s effort was not too dissimilar to the power on the strike from Said Benrahma that slipped through De Gea’s fingers a few weeks earlier.
In truth, however, it has not always been De Gea’s shot-stopping that has let him and United down over the years; it has often been his distribution of the ball with his feet. We all remember what happened when the Reds were beaten 3-0 by Sevilla in the second-leg of their Europa League quarter-final defeat in April, don’t we?
That was one of De Gea’s darkest hours in a United shirt and that night, for many of United’s fans, was when it became crystal clear that the club needs to recruit a new goalkeeper this summer. The Spaniard, who joined the club back in 2011, has a contract offer on the table to extend his stay beyond the end of this month, but it is now looking increasingly unlikely that he will sign it.
The Manchester Evening News understands that the situation is not as positive as it previously was amid fears for De Gea that Erik ten Hag cannot guarantee that he will remain his first choice goalkeeper next season. Though the shot-stopper has been a loyal and dedicated servant over the past 12 years, there is no room for sentiment.
Ten Hag plans to be ruthless in this summer’s transfer window and bringing in a new goalkeeper, whether De Gea stays or goes, would prove that he means business. United have been on an upward curve ever since the Dutchman arrived and the club needs to strengthen the squad this summer to ensure that upward curve is not interrupted.
Bringing in a new goalkeeper aligned with Ten Hag’s methods and way of playing would bolster their chances of that happening. He wants United to become a more dominant and possession-based team, playing the ball through the thirds with a swagger, starting with the goalkeeper.
United have been linked with a cluster of goalkeepers in recent weeks and months, all of whom are capable in possession. Among them have been Brentford’s David Raya, FC Porto star Diogo Costa and most recently Andre Onana of Inter Milan.
Onana, who joined Inter last summer, worked with Ten Hag at Ajax and excelled under his management. The Cameroon international is almost six years De Gea’s junior, only turning 27 back in April. Goalkeepers, too, rarely enter their prime years until their 30s.
The Inter shot-stopper, who kept 19 clean sheets this season, is a trusted operator in possession and Ten Hag, from previous experience, will know exactly what qualities he would add to his United squad. As well as being a capable shot-stopper, the former Ajax goalkeeper would bring the passing capabilities that United need in a new ‘keeper.
Andre Onana outclassed David de Gea when it came to passing metrics. (Image: Comparisonator.com.)
Comparing Onana’s goalkeeping parameters from the 2022/23 season directly with De Gea’s, the Cameroonian outclassed the 32-year-old when it came to their respective passing metrics. Though it is important to take into account the teams they play for, the leagues they plan in and the amount of matches they played, Onana was a class above.
The Inter goalkeeper successfully completed 27.75 passes per 90 and produced 5.89 successful long passes per 90. De Gea, on the other hand, averaged 18.28 successful passes per 90 and 4.76 successful long passes per 90.
De Gea, time and again, has proven that he is not comfortable in possession, highlighting why Onana would be a significant upgrade to help United produce the style of football Ten Hag wants. The size of Ten Hag’s budget, as is the case with just about every signing United want to make this summer, will dictate whether a move for Onana is feasible, but you can guarantee his wage would be a lot smaller than what De Gea has been taking home every week.
Nevertheless, United need to strengthen their goalkeeping department and Onana has all of the tools to be able to do that.
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Source: manchestereveningnews
