Manchester UnitedTheir transfer strategy in recent years has come under fire, wasting hundreds of millions of pounds on players who simply aren’t at the level required for Premier League.
Former boss Eric ten Haag is partly responsible for their recruitment, spending over 600 million £ for new additions during his tenure at Old Trafford.
In an attempt to combat their recent woes, Dan Ashworth joined from Newcastle United a few months ago, but he has already given up his post after a clash with Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
The 53-year-old has only been in the sporting director’s position for five months, overseeing the last transfer window under Ten Haag. another £200 million got wet before his dismissal.
However, it was a deal before he moved to the North West which may seem wrong, especially considering his inexcusable mistakes in his last outing.
The transfer of Andre Onana to Manchester United
In the summer of 2023, various areas of the pitch underwent an overhaul to try to capitalize on the third place achieved during the previous season.
Rasmus Hojlund and Mason Mount both arrived to provide additional firepower in the attacking areas, with the pair costs the hierarchy more than 120 million £ in the process.
However, the departure of fan favorite David De Gea left a massive hole between the sticks that desperately needed to be filled ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.
the spanish which made 545 entries for the Red Devils, he was let go at the end of his contract by Ten Hag, who chose to sign Andrew Onan for £47 million – believing the Cameroonian would be better suited in terms of playing from the back.
While there’s no doubt that the 28-year-old has produced some impressive moments, his mistakes will always be remembered, especially when they contribute to defeat.
His mistakes against Nottingham Forest last night were inexcusable, driving Reuben Amorim in his first home defeat since his appointment late last month.
Onana couldn’t contain efforts from Morgan Gibbs-White and Chris Wood, sending them to a second successive defeat. As a result, Amorim already has a huge task on his hands.
It could have been easier if the club had completed a deal for another goalkeeper, rather than opting for a move to land the Cameroonian. Here’s who they could have signed instead…
One that got away
The transfers that almost happened but never happened. This article is part of Football FanCast’s One That Got Away series.
Man United’s Onana alternative
Having lost such a key member in De Gea, replacing the Spaniard was always going to be a difficult task, creating huge expectations for his replacement – who ended up being Onana.
The move arguably came after his time playing under Ten Hag at Ajax, reuniting the pair – a common thread with most additions during his time in charge.
However, in the same period of reformation of goalkeepers there were numerous references linked Goalkeeper of Real Madrid Thibaut Courtois with a big transfer to Old Trafford.
The Belgian, formerly called “world class‘, by journalist Harry Burton, who appeared in the Premier League for Chelsea before moving to Real Madrid in the summer of 2018.
During his glittering career, the 32-year-old has won six league titles to date, undoubtedly establishing himself as one of the best ‘keepers in the world in recent years.
|
Thibaut Courtois’ stats for Real Madrid |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Time |
Games |
Goals conceded |
Clean sheets |
|
2018/19 |
35 |
48 |
10 |
|
2019/20 |
43 |
32 |
21 |
|
2020/21 |
51 |
44 |
21 |
|
2021/22 |
52 |
46 |
22 |
|
2022/23 |
49 |
49 |
17 |
|
2023/24 |
5 |
0 |
5 |
|
2024/25 |
16 |
14 |
6 |
|
Statistics via Transfer market |
|||
Since his move to the Bernabeu, Courtois has also helped the Spanish giants to two Champions League trophies, producing a man of the match performance against Liverpool in the final game of the 2021/22 season.
Given his huge success as a player, coupled with Onana’s recent missteps, the club may have wished they had taken the additional money required to secure the Belgian’s services.
His experience at the top level, combined with a winning mentality would add the leadership and quality needed to end their recent run without a Premier League title.
However, he will remain as one that got away, leaving United fans with a case of what he could have been if they had signed him instead of the number one.
