Ruben Amorim's revolution won't properly take off until he signs a reliable shot-stopper, and there are a host of strong options to consider
Manchester United must bring in a new No.1 goalkeeper. That was the obvious conclusion to make after Andre Onana's latest nightmare performance in the Premier League on Wednesday.
Just four minutes into United's home game against Ipswich, for reasons known only to him, Onana raced off his line towards a long ball despite Patrick Dorgu already being on the case, which in turn led to the full-back poking the ball past him straight into the feet of grateful Ipswich winger Jaden Philogene, who was then left with the simple task of rolling the ball into an empty net. Yes, Dorgu should have just cleared his lines, but Onana's poor judgement and lack of communication created an issue out of nothing.
Philogene probably couldn't believe his luck after scoring his second goal of the night in first-half stoppage time, either, as his tame, low and seemingly mishit cross somehow sneaked in at Onana's far post. Fortunately for the 'keeper, United ended up winning 3-2 in front of an exasperated Old Trafford crowd, despite playing the entire second half with 10 men after Dorgu's stupid red card.
At the final whistle, Onana was seen pumping his fists in celebration, completely oblivious to the fact that he had almost cost his team vital points. United have made some terrible errors with goalkeeping purchases down the years, with Massimo Taibi and Mark Bosnich generally seen as the two biggest flops, but Onana is at best beginning to rival them.
Ruben Amorim cannot take this United squad forward with Onana in goal; the former Inter star's positioning and handling are dire, he's too rash, doesn't have any command of the box, and his distribution is wildly erratic. The Red Devils need a far safer pair of hands, and with that in mind, GOAL has found eight goalkeepers who could replace Onana in the summer transfer window…
Getty Images SportGregor Kobel
According to , United are prepared to battle Chelsea for the signing of Borussia Dortmund No.1 Gregor Kobel when the transfer market re-opens. The Blues are eager for Kobel to replace the unreliable Robert Sanchez between the sticks, but United's need is far greater, and club scouts have been monitoring the Switzerland international for some time.
Kobel is known for his sharp reflexes, strength in the air and long-ball accuracy, all of which have seen him emerge as one of the Bundesliga's finest all-round goalkeepers. The 27-year-old played a key role in Dortmund's run to the Champions League final last season, and has impressed again in 2024-25 despite BVB's worrying slide as a collective force.
United will have to move quickly to beat Chelsea to Kobel's signature, but he could be well worth the time and effort.
AdvertisementAFPSenne Lammens
In December, reported that United had added Royal Antwerp's Senne Lammens to their list of goalkeeping targets, having regularly sent scouts over the Belgium to watch the 22-year-old in action. Lammens only broke into the Antwerp first-team squad at the back end of last season, but has quickly made the No.1 shirt his own and is viewed as a player with 'huge potential'.
Lammens has even been touted as the long-term successor for Thibaut Courtois in the Belgian national team, and though a number of Bundesliga clubs are also said to be on his tail, including Dortmund, the youngster seems to have a soft spot for United. He told when quizzed on United's interest earlier this month: "The first time I heard it, I thought. 'Wow, a world team that follows you. That is special'. It's only positive. Especially because it's the best competition in the world and my profile – my stature and way of playing – is similar to English football. You have to physically hold your own there and that suits me."
It would be a gamble for United to put Lammens straight in for Onana given his age and lack of experience, but he already seems to have a mature head on his shoulders and it's encouraging that he has so much confidence in his abilities. It has also been reported that Antwerp will only demand around €10 million for Lammens, which could be a shrewd investment.
Getty Images SportBart Verbruggen
If United want to sign a young, Premier League-proven goalkeeper, they probably won't do any better than Bart Verbruggen. has claimed that the 22-year-old is firmly on the Red Devils' radar after establishing himself as first choice net-minder for both Brighton and the Netherlands national team.
On the back of his hugely impressive Euro 2024 campaign, Verbruggen has provided the base for Brighton's latest push for a top-seven Premier League finish. The Dutch ace is already an accomplished ball-playing 'keeper who always stays calm under pressure, and he boasts lightning-fast reactions that allow him to keep out shots from all angles.
Verbruggen would cost United at least £30m ($38m) given the fact he is still under contract with Brighton until 2028, but that's really a small price to pay for a player with such a high ceiling. It helps that he's already been compared to a United legend, too, with former Dutch goalkeeping coach Frans Hoek saying last summer: "He’s a natural talent. It may well be that he will be the next one on whom the Dutch team can build for a long time, à la Edwin van der Sar."
Getty Images SportJan Oblak
Jan Oblak has long been linked with a switch to Old Trafford because of his outstanding performances for Atletico Madrid over the past decade. The €103m (£86m/ $107m) release clause in the Slovenian's contract has helped Atletico stave off other elite clubs up to this point, but recent reports in Spain have suggested that he is looking for 'one last challenge' in his career.
It has been said that Atletico could let Oblak go for as little as €30m (£25m/$31m) this summer, which would be a massive bargain for United, and there have been claims that the Red Devils made initial contact with Oblak in January, though the 32-year-old wanted to stay put until the end of the season with Atletico still in contention to win La Liga, the Champions League and the Copa del Rey.
Clubs in Saudi Arabia have also been linked with Oblak, but it would be a waste of his talent to leave Europe so young, and he could hardly ask for a bigger challenge than joining Amorim's rebuild project at United. Oblak is the dream replacement for Onana; a truly world-class goalkeeper with all the attributes needed to thrive in the Premier League.