Turkish Super Lig champions may sign one of Manchester United's two goalkeepers, but Onana still refuses to leave! Amorin declines to discuss who will start

Manchester United signed new goalkeeper Sena Lamens on the summer transfer deadline day but did not sell any of their existing keepers. After the 23-year-old Lamens arrived at Carrington, Ruben Amorin now has four first-team goalkeepers: Lamens, Andre Onana, Altay Bayindir, and Tom Heaton.

New signing Lamens was first called up to the Belgian national team this March but did not make an appearance; he was also not included in the World Cup qualifying squads for matches against Liechtenstein and Kazakhstan this month, allowing him to train at Carrington alongside other non-international teammates. Onana and Bayindir are currently absent, having been called up by Cameroon and Turkey respectively.

After Onana missed out on a Premier League start against Burnley last weekend, Manchester United refused to disclose whether the Belgian goalkeeper would immediately become Amorin’s new number one. In the Premier League, Bayindir has played all three opening rounds, while Onana featured in the League Cup; both have made costly errors.

This summer, Manchester United did not initially prioritize signing a new goalkeeper, but due to the inconsistent performances of Bayindir and Onana in matches, head coach Amorin changed his stance and decided to bring in a new recruit.

The 39-year-old third-choice keeper Heaton has not played since February 2023, and with Lamens signed, he is unlikely to feature for Manchester United this season. Following elimination from the League Cup, United will not have another cup match until the FA Cup third round in January, leaving a possible total of only 40 matches this season.

While the major European leagues’ transfer windows closed on Monday, the Turkish and Saudi windows remain open until September 10. English media "Offside Insight" reported that Turkish champions Galatasaray are considering signing either Onana or Bayindir, having missed out on Manchester City’s Ederson, who was recently snapped up by Fenerbahce after Mourinho’s dismissal.

However, sources add that Onana’s move to Galatasaray is unlikely due to his weekly wage of £120,000 to £150,000 being a major obstacle, making Bayindir a more realistic target. Premier League transfer expert Graeme Bailey confirmed that Galatasaray have negotiated with Onana’s representatives. Nevertheless, Onana is unwilling to leave.

ESPN also reported that Onana still hopes to remain and compete for his place under Amorin. He does not intend to leave this summer and is determined to stay at Old Trafford to prove his critics wrong. He also believes Amorin is unlikely to start Lamens immediately, especially with upcoming matches away at Manchester City and home against Chelsea.

After signing Mbeumo, Sesko, and others this summer, Amorin did not immediately field them in pre-season friendlies. Although Lamens has had half a month to adapt to the new environment, it may not be enough, as he was recently sidelined by Royal Antwerp for the last two games due to the transfer, lacking match practice. Therefore, both Onana and Bayindir still believe they have a chance to keep their starting roles.

Even if they stay forcibly this season, it is likely that Onana and Bayindir will have to leave in the future. English media "TEAMtalk" stated that although Amorin publicly defends the goalkeepers’ performances, he is actually very frustrated by their repeated mistakes and wants to find a more reliable keeper. From the club’s perspective, Manchester United is also willing to let current goalkeepers leave, even on loan.