By CHRIS WHEELER, NORTHERN SPORTS WRITER
Published: | Updated:
Andre Onana is expected to stay at Manchester United despite uncertainty over his future and speculation the club may consider a move for Antwerp goalkeeper Senne Lammens.
Ruben Amorim has refused to say whether Onana will return in goal at Fulham on Sunday after playing Altay Bayindir in the opening-day defeat to Arsenal last weekend when he was criticised for letting in the only goal of the game from a corner.
Onana was left out of the squad altogether after missing the entire pre-season with a hamstring injury, and Amorim has been reluctant to confirm that the Cameroon international is still his No.1.
‘Onana is ready to play like last week so we will see in the game who is going to be the goalkeeper,’ said the United boss at his pre-match press conference on Friday. ‘Licha (Martinez) is out, Nous (Mazraoui) is out, the rest of the guys are fit.’
It’s understood that both United and Onana expect him to remain when the transfer window closes a week on Monday, even though Monaco were quoted £30million earlier this summer and he could yet be a target for his old club Inter Milan.
Meanwhile, a move for Lammens before the end of the window cannot be ruled out. However, it’s understood there is nothing imminent despite reports that the 23-year-old Belgian has discussed personal terms with United, and he would be unlikely to come in as first-choice anyway.
Andre Onana is expected to stay at Manchester United despite uncertainty over his future
A move for Senne Lammens cannot be ruled out, but his arrival would depend on departures
Rasmus Hojlund could make a return to Italy after watching the loss to Arsenal from the stands
It would make sense for United to have a deal in place with Lammens if they decide to make a move for him late in the window, but that would be dependent on offloading players to create room in the budget.
United are still working on deals for striker Rasmus Hojlund and their remaining four ‘bomb squad’ members – Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia.
Hojlund, who was left out of the squad to face Arsenal after United signed Benjamin Sesko, could make a return to Italy with Napoli after being linked with AC Milan and Inter.
Asked how Hojlund has reacted to the situation, Amorim said: ‘Like a professional player. We need to see. Let’s wait until the market is closed and then everything is clear.’
Garnacho and Antony continue to be linked with moves to Chelsea and Real Betis, and Sancho has interest in Italy and Turkey.
Amorim has still not ruled out of the possibility of any of them still being at United after the window closes. ‘I know that is not a good thing to have players in this situation, but it’s clear they want to play in a different club,’ he added.
‘So we try to arrange everything for both parties to be happy. I have to try to imagine to have the training with the guys that I think are going to be the future, and the other guys are training and preparing for the next chapter.
‘When the window is closed, it’s a different history, when the window is closed, we have to receive the players and in a new life, anything can happen.’
