Man Utd to sell DROPPED Onana and sign Gareth Southgate’s Godson

Carlo Garganese

Updated: 13 Apr 2025 09:38 BST
4 min read

André Onana, Manchester United — © IMAGO/FootballTransfers

Manchester United have dropped Andre Onana and plan to sell him this summer in order to sign Gareth Southgate’s godson.

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Onana has endured a disastrous two years at United since joining from Inter Milan in 2023, and the club now appear to have had enough of his error-prone performances.

Current ETV

André Onana

Man Utd

André Onana

Man Utd

ETV Range

€30.8M - €37.6M

On Thursday, Onana made two more catastrophic errors in the 2-2 draw with Lyon in the quarter-final first leg of the Europa League in France.

As a result, manager Ruben Amorim has left Onana out of the matchday squad for United's Premier League match against Newcastle on Sunday. It is also reported in multiple outlets that United have also put Onana up for sale this summer.

United target Gareth Southgate's godson

United have now started searching for a replacement for Onana this summer and, according to The Sun, the club are targetting Preston North End goalkeeper Freddie Woodman.

The 28-year-old is regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the Championship, making more than 100 apperarances for Preston since joining in 2022. He previously played for Newcastle in the Premier League.

Woodman is actually the godson of former England manager - and Man Utd managerial candidate - Gareth Southgate.

Freddie Woodman.#pnefc pic.twitter.com/XBp7F8JQsX
— North End Football Podcast (@northendpod) January 11, 2025

There are a number of other names on Man Utd's goalkeeper shortlist, including Lille's Lucas Chevalier, Antwerp's Senne Lammens, Burnley‘s James Trafford, Blackburn Rovers‘ Aynsley Pears and Wigan Athletic’s Sam Tickle.

Onana signed for Man Utd in the summer of 2023 for €51m - plus €4m in bonuses - from Inter Milan.

Big things were expected of the Cameroonian, who had enjoyed an outstanding Champions League season with the Nerazzurri, playing a key role in their run to the final.

He kept more clean sheets than anyone in the tournament, including five in the knockout rounds, as Inter narrowly and unluckily lost 1-0 to Man City in the showpiece in June. He was also heralded as the best goalkeeper in the world with the ball at his feet.

However, Onana endured an error-prone season last term, with United having their worst defensive record and most goals conceded in decades.

He made a string of mistakes, in particular in the Champions League group stage elimination in games against Galatasaray, Copenhagen and Bayern Munich.

This season Onana improved a touch earlier in the campaign but he has reverted to last season's form in recent months, including a horror display against Lyon on Thursday.