Sport
Man Utd’s failure to sign a goalkeeper could ruin their rebuild
Arsenal’s threat from set pieces is well-known, as is Altay Bayindir’s weakness in defending them. The Turkish goalkeeper was beaten straight from a corner kick in a Carabao Cup defeat by Tottenham Hotspur last season and Bayindir cost Manchester United once again as Arsenal inflicted a 1-0 defeat on the opening weekend of the 2025/26 Premier League campaign.
Some argued Bayindir was fouled as he attempted to get a fist on Declan Rice’s corner kick with William Saliba on top of the United goalkeeper. Most, however, adjudged that Bayindir should have been stronger. Alisson Becker, Thibaut Courtois or another top goalkeeper would have cleared out everyone in front of them to eliminate the danger.
Of course, Bayindir was only playing because Andre Onana has only just returned from injury and wasn’t ready to start. However, the Cameroonian has faced some issues of his own over the last two seasons. There’s no guarantee he would have dealt with Rice’s corner kick delivery any differently to how Bayindir did – or didn’t.
It was a shame for Manchester United that Bayindir wasn’t stronger in that one specific moment because the Old Trafford outfit played well. There were many positives for Ruben Amorim to take from the performance which demonstrated how the Portuguese coach is finally getting through to his players.
Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo gave United more muscle and dribbling ability, driving at the Arsenal defence more than once. Bruno Fernandes was influential in his new number eight role while Diogo Dalot and Patrick Dorgu were quick to join attacks on the wings. At the back, Matthijs de Ligt was physically strong and generally cruised through the match.
All this, however, was compromised by Bayindir’s performance, and Manchester United’s season as a whole could be compromised if they don’t sign a new goalkeeper before the summer transfer window closes. Bayindir and Onana simply aren’t good enough to carry Amorim’s team into the top five, which is where they want to be.
Gianluigi Donnarumma has been linked with a switch to Old Trafford having been frozen out at Paris Saint-Germain. Antwerp shot-stopper Senne Lammers is also believed to be on United’s radar and could be someone the club signs with a view to one day taking over as their first-choice goalkeeper of the future.
Onana was signed as David de Gea’s replacement two years ago to improve Manchester United’a ability to build out from the back. However, United quickly ditched that idea, subsequently exposing how the former Inter Milan number one isn’t the most natural of pure goalkeepers, meaning his shot stopping isn’t always up to scratch.
“We proved today that we can win any game in the Premier League, especially against a great team like Arsenal, and we were the better team. I’m happy with the three goalkeepers,” insisted Amorim as he was pressed on Bayindir, Onana and Tom Heaton’s standing in the Old Trafford dressing room with the new season now under way.
It could be the case that Manchester United simply don’t have the financial freedom to move for a new goalkeeper this summer. They have already spent £200m revamping their forward line with some reports suggesting the Old Trafford outfit will move for a new midfielder before the summer transfer window closes.
United were never going to be able to do everything all at once this summer, but what happened on Sunday may have forced them to reconsider their priorities. As long as Bayindir and Onana are in line for minutes in the first team, there will be more moments like the one that cost Amorim’s side on Sunday.
