Manchester United has frequently invested significantly in recent years in a bid to acquire the quality of players necessary for a Premier League title challenge.
The club’s management has expended approximately £800 million on new signings in the past three years alone, yet the Red Devils have only secured an FA Cup victory as a result of their substantial expenditures.
Ruben Amorim is the most recent manager to attempt his fortune at Old Trafford, which has led to £200 million being allocated during the summer transfer window to rectify the 15th-place finish from the previous season.
For any successful team in England’s top division, it is essential to maintain financial balance and sell players to facilitate significant spending, in addition to steering clear of any financial repercussions.
Nevertheless, the management will be exceedingly fortunate to recoup the funds invested in Andre Onana, considering his disappointing performance at the club over the past few years.
Andre Onana’s decline at Manchester United
As part of United’s significant expenditures in recent years, goalkeeper Onana transferred to Old Trafford in a deal valued at approximately £47.2m, which includes add-ons from Serie A club Inter Milan during the summer of 2023.
Many fans perceived the Cameroonian as the long-term answer to the goalkeeping dilemma – stepping in to succeed David de Gea after the Spaniard was released following a decade with the team.
The past two years have been tumultuous for the 29-year-old, who has recorded nine errors leading to goals, causing the team to lose points in crucial situations, whether in the Premier League or European competitions.
In the previous season alone, Onana made six errors, one of which occurred during the Europa League final, where he was unable to stop Brennan Johnson’s shot – leading to Tottenham Hotspur’s victory in the final held in Bilbao.
His only appearance this season for Amorim’s squad was in the Carabao Cup match against Grimsby Town, where he conceded two goals and was arguably responsible for both of the hosts’ goals that evening.
Altay Bayindir has since taken over as the primary goalkeeper for the Red Devils, but this situation may soon change with the summer signing of Senne Lammens from Belgian club Royal Antwerp.
Onana is also expected to depart from Old Trafford in the upcoming days, as the club and player have reached an agreement for a loan transfer to Turkish club Trabzonspor for the remainder of the 2025/26 season.
Although the English transfer window has closed, another player is likely to be moved closer to the exit, considering his minimal impact at the club over the past few months.
The United player who should leave alongside Onana
Kobbie Mainoo is another player currently at United who has faced challenges in securing playing time under Amorim, having only started the cup match against Grimsby, similar to Onana.
The academy graduate was regarded as a player with significant potential during the 2023/24 season, even netting a goal in the FA Cup final; however, it is fair to say that his career has not progressed since Amorim’s arrival.
He started only 50% of the league matches last season and has yet to score in the 2024/25 campaign, prompting him to request a transfer away from the club this summer.
Nevertheless, he remained at his boyhood club after the transfer window closed, but he will need to compete for his position if he hopes to become a regular starter once more.
He is not the only one struggling to make an impact, as Dutch international Joshua Zirkzee has also failed to meet expectations since his transfer to the Theatre of Dreams.
The 24-year-old joined the club from Bologna for £36.5m in the summer of 2023, yet he has only scored seven goals in 51 appearances, with just three of those in the Premier League.
Like Mainoo, he has yet to start in the league this season, with his only appearance in England’s top division being as a substitute in the 3-2 victory over Burnley prior to the international break.
His limited playing time comes as no surprise, considering his poor form, combined with the new signings in the attacking lineup, leading one content creator to remark that he appears to be playing in ‘Sunday League.’
Zirkzee’s underlying statistics underscore his lack of influence, as he has only completed 72% of his passes and won a mere 29% of the aerial duels he contested, resulting in a minimal tangible impact, as evidenced by his goal drought.
| Joshua Zirkzee – PL stats (2024/25) | |
|---|---|
| Statistics (per 90) | Tally |
| Games played | 32 |
| Goals & assists | 4 |
| Pass accuracy | 72% |
| Chances created | 0.7 |
| Dribbles completed | 31% |
| Aerials won | 29% |
| Shots on target | 0.7 |
| Possession lost | 2.9 |
| Stats via FotMob | |
He also only completed 31% of his dribbles and lost possession 2.9 times per 90 – further showcasing his lack of positive impact when featuring for the Red Devils.
Given his lack of minutes, coupled with his poor displays, the club should be looking to move the former Bayern Munich star on over the next couple of months.
The arrivals of players such as Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo have undoubtedly pushed the Dutchman further down the pecking order – with the hierarchy desperately needing to cut their losses.
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