Man Utd urged to replace 'De Gea downgrade' Onana
Tom Weber
- Updated: 7 Oct 2023 09:36 CDT
- 4 min read
Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton believes that Manchester United would do well to replace Andre Onana next summer.
The Red Devils goalkeeper was brought in to fill the hole left by the departure of modern-day club legend David de Gea, who headed for the exit after Man Utd reneged on their initial contract proposal. The Spaniard is still a free agent and some are clamouring for him to return in light of Onana's poor start to life at Old Trafford.
Signed for €52.5 million as an upgrade on De Gea, particularly with the ball at his feet, Onana has already made several high-profile howlers in this still-young season. His shot-stopping in particular has raised questions and former Norwich and Chelsea striker Chris Sutton believes that United should move on from the Cameroon international.
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"I think he's a downgrade on De Gea. I really do," Sutton said on the It's All Coming Up podcast. "I've seen enough of him. Is he better than De Gea with his feet? Probably, only just."
Upgrade needed
"But," Sutton continued, "I'm more interested in him keeping the ball out the back of the net and I think he's made a lot of blunders this season. A lot of goalkeeping errors."
"You go to the game against Bayern Munich, a couple of errors, and even the game this week [against Galatasaray] where I thought the third goal, he went down so early."
"I'm not so sure about him. I think Manchester United will make a change. I'm not saying this season but I think at the end of the season they need to get an upgrade on Onana...With the actual basics of goalkeeping, keeping the ball out of the back of the net, I don't see him anywhere near De Gea in that respect."
"So I think Manchester United, we understand why Onana came in because he's good with his feet and I know he made a bad error in the week against Galatasaray with the ball out to Casemiro - he got that really badly wrong."
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"That can happen. But I'm more worried about watching him week in and week out. I don't think he's commanding. I don't think his shot-stopping is great. And that's not what Manchester United need at this moment in time."
"I think he's a downgrade on De Gea and that's a big worry. I think most Manchester United fans would agree with me."
