Manchester United still have plenty of work to do in the summer transfer window and while Gary Neville believes a new goalkeeper should be looked at, there are bigger priorities
Isaac is a senior NCTJ-trained journalist with an MA in News Journalism. He has experience of working for national and regional news organisations including the Express, the Manchester Evening News and the Liverpool Echo. He currently covers sport across all regional sites at Reach PLC.
Gary Neville believes Manchester United should prioritise a new goalkeeper next in the summer transfer window – but he’s wrong.
The Reds’ current No.1, Andre Onana, has struggled badly at times since arriving at Old Trafford from Inter Milan in 2023. The Cameroonian was supposed to be an upgrade on a declining David de Gea and yet he has often cost United points rather than rescuing them.
Every side with ambitions to be a top team needs a world-class goalkeeper between the sticks. Onana is clearly not that based on his performances at Old Trafford over the past two seasons.
“That could be a bigger challenge than the economy… I think the two signings [Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo] are good signings, yet there’s a couple more needed,” Neville told Sky News when discussing United’s need for a new shot-stopper.
“I think they need a goalkeeper, they need a centre-forward, and if they fill those two positions with decent signings, then United can have a lot, I mean, they have to have a better season than last year. It can’t get any worse, really.”
And yet, given the problems at M16, a new goalkeeper should be further down the long list of priorities. With money tight at United this summer after spending heavily on Cunha and Mbeumo – it’s clear which positions the Reds should focus on next.
United scored a meagre 44 goals in the Premier League last term – comfortably their lowest in a generation. RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins have been the No.9’s most heavily linked in recent times.
The Manchester Evening News understands that United are advancing with a potential move for Sesko, with Villa adamant that Watkins is not for sale.
If there is any room for further signings – something which will only be possible if sales are made – then attention should then turn to a new midfielder. Ruben Amorim’s side were overrun on endless occasions last term.
Former Fulham star Joao Palhinha would improve Amorim’s side and offers the Premier League experience Ineos have been focusing on with their signings so far. Getting Palhinha and Sesko would represent a good window for United and offer some optimism for 2025/26.
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