Ruben Amorim has been backed to complete a ‘no-brainer’ transfer to replace Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana.
Amorim’s priority this summer has been to strengthen his attacking options but the ex-Sporting Lisbon manager is also on the lookout for a new goalkeeper.
Matheus Cunha arrived at Old Trafford from Wolves to become United’s first summer signing and the Red Devils are also making progress on a deal for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo.
Amorim was determined to add more firepower to his squad after Manchester United struggles in front of goal last season, with Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee among those to underwhelm.
The signings of Cunha and Mbeumo should make United a more potent force next season and Amorim remains interested in signing a new No. 9, preferably his former Sporting star Viktor Gyokeres.
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A new goalkeeper is also believed to be on Amorim’s wishlist following a poor season between the posts for ex-Champions League finalists Onana.
Onana made a string of errors during the 2024-25 campaign and at one stage of the season had made more errors leading to goals than any other Premier League goalkeeper.
Manchester United are understood to be open to offers for Onana, who has been linked with Ligue 1 side Monaco and several Saudi Pro League clubs.
As a potential replacement for Onana, United have expressed interest in signing Emiliano Martinez and it would be a ‘no-brainer’ to bring the World Cup winner to Old Trafford.
That is the opinion of Manchester United hero Gary Pallister, who insists Martinez is the ‘real deal’ and has the ‘personality’ to thrive at his former club.
‘Andre Onana has been under a lot of pressure,’ he told Metro on behalf of Gamble Online. ‘He went through a period last season where he was very good but then he started making some high-profile mistakes.
‘Emi Martinez is the real deal in terms of his goalkeeping ability and his personality, he’s a very strong character.
‘He’s brave and is everything you’d want to see in a Premier League goalkeeper. If you were able to get your hands on him, then I think that’s possibly a no-brainer.
‘But I don’t know what his intentions are. It looks like he will be leaving Aston Villa but nobody really knows where he’s heading.
‘He’s a huge personality and I think you have to have that if you’re going to a club like Manchester United.
‘Peter Schmeichel had it and people thought he was arrogant or whatever, but he was a strong character and had belief in himself. That’s what it takes to be successful there.
‘There’s a lot of pressure at Old Trafford, even more so right now because of the state the team and the club are in.
‘It would be a big leap of faith for him to join Manchester United but in terms of the badge and the history, then it’s still up there as possibly the biggest club in the world.’
Martinez, 32, established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the world at Aston Villa but endured a frustrating 2024-25 campaign.
The Argentina international has refused to commit his future to Villa and is reportedly ‘dreaming’ of a summer move to Manchester United.
What has Emiliano Martinez said about his future at Manchester United?
‘My future? I don’t know, I come here to play for the national team, and that’s the only thing that matters to me right now,’ he said.
‘Do I want to move to a new club? The transfer window just opened, so there’s still a long way to go.’
Emiliano Martinez speaking while on international duty earlier this month.
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has insisted Martinez is staying but the club are believed to be open to offers given their financial issues and would want around £40m.
While Pallister has endorsed a move for Martinez, he is relatively happy with those in front of United’s goalkeeper, insisting the team’s defence looks ‘relatively strong’.
‘I’m looking forward to Lisandro Martinez getting back, I think he could play that left sided centre back role,’ said Pallister, who won four Premier League titles at the Theatre of Dreams.
‘I think Leny Yoro was coming into his own at the end of the season and we’re starting to see a real player develop there and I would have no problem with Harry Maguire playing in the middle of the three.
‘I don’t think I’d like to see him on the outside of the three but in the middle of the three, I don’t think there’ll be a problem.
‘You’ve got Matthijs de Ligt there as well so I don’t think it’s a position where we are lacking, certainly the centre halves.
‘With the full backs, it will be interesting with Diogo Dalot and with what happens to Luke Shaw, whether he can get himself back, if he’s fully fit and firing, then I think he’s possibly still the best English left back.
‘Noussair Mazraoui, if he can reproduce the form he showed at the beginning of his career, Manchester United have got a good player in that position as well.
‘So the defence looks fairly strong, but then we’ve got to fill the rest in with a few attacking players.’
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