Manchester United have been linked with a surprise move for Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale as a potential replacement for Andre Onana next season.
Manchester United have been told that Southampton’s Aaron Ramsdale would be a better option than Andre Onana.
Reports in The Sun claim that United have been tracking former Arsenal goalkeeper Ramsdale ‘closely’ recently. The Reds are said to be convinced he would represent a strong signing for Ruben Amorim. The report adds that he has a £25million release clause, which has alerted a number of clubs.
Links with Ramsdale follow several high-profile errors this season from current Reds No. 1 Onana. The former Inter Milan keeper was at fault for both Lyon goals during last week’s 2-2 draw in United’s Europa League quarterfinal first-leg clash.
And former Rangers boss Ally McCoist and ex-Sky Sports presenter Jeff Stelling have had their say on reports that Ramsdale could be a potential summer replacement for United’s under-fire goalkeeper.
“I don’t think it’d be daft at all,” McCoist told talkSPORT. “I don’t fancy Onana to be honest with you, I’m not sure he’s of the class Manchester United need as a goalkeeper moving forward.
“The squad’s needing a dramatic overhaul and that wouldn’t be the daftest move.” Stelling added: “Ramsdale’s played at the top level. He’s played for England, he’s played for Arsenal, and he’s not going to want to play in the Championship with Southampton.”
McCoist replied.: “No, that’s for sure. I’d be staggered if he starts next year at Southampton. I don’t think he’ll be there next season in the Championship.”
Reds boss Amorim defended Onana after the game in France last week, insisting that he will not say anything to United’s under-pressure goalkeeper. The 29-year-old was rested for Sunday’s defeat at Newcastle but could return for the second leg against Lyon.
“It can happen,” Amorim said of Onana’s mistakes. “If you play football, you play a lot of games, you can make mistakes. If you look at the season, I make more mistakes than them during these last games and these last months. The other thing is we have one more game to change everything and that should be our focus.
“I don’t know (if Matic unsettled Onana), that can happen. The best thing is to look at the goals, all the actions that Andre had in the game, talk with (Jorge) Vital and Craig (Mawson), this is the best way to help any player. It’s to focus on the game, what happened, what we need to improve and then put the player in.
“I didn’t see [Onana], to be honest with you. I use these minutes to try to calm down, to come here to say the right things. It’s normal. I felt the dressing room was really quiet. We draw away, in Europe, that is always hard, but the team is suffering, we need to change that.
“Nothing. We have training, go with Vital and we deal with that. Really natural. That can happen with any player.
“There’s nothing I can say to Andre in this moment. The most important thing is to be natural and then, when the time comes, I will choose the best XI to play. But I’m really confident in Andre.”