The decision comes shortly after the Red Devils completed the deal with goalkeeper Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp on the final day of the European transfer window, for a fee of £18.2 million. The Belgian goalkeeper is considered an addition to the long-term future, and has become the 4th goalkeeper in the first team, competing with Onana, Bayindir and Heaton.
The cramped goal has left Man United unable to rule out the possibility of saying goodbye to one of the two names: Onana or Bayindir. Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his colleagues still have plenty of time to consider when the Saudi Pro League transfer market closes on September 23, while the Super Lig ends earlier on September 12.
Man United will not sell both goalkeepers at the same time but will not rule out saying goodbye to one. Earlier, in the summer, Onana and Bayindir both confirmed they wanted to stay and fight for the starting position, instead of looking for a new destination.
However, the actual performance painted a gloomy picture. Onana kept making silly mistakes. After a hamstring injury in pre-season, he lost the No. 1 spot to Bayindir in all three of the opening rounds of the Premier League. The biggest shock came in the League Cup when Onana made a fatal mistake and lost all the way in the penalty shootout against Fourth Division side Grimsby Town, contributing to Man United's embarrassing elimination.
Onana attracted interest from the Super Lig earlier in the summer and almost joined Galatasaray on the day of the transfer window, before the Turkish team chose to sign Ugurcan Cakir. However, the possibility of the Cameroonian goalkeeper leaving Old Trafford in September is still open, especially when he prepares with the team to participate in the Can Cup taking place from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026.
Bayindir is not much better. After many months of waiting, the Turkish goalkeeper finally had a chance to start in the Premier League but could not create confidence. He was criticised for making a direct mistake in the opening day loss to Arsenal and almost turning the 3-2 victory over Burnley into a disaster when handling it uncertainly.
Meanwhile, Tom Heaton - an experienced player and loved by teammates and fans - still plays an important role in practicing and leading the dressing room. Therefore, one of the two names Onana or Bayindir is likely to leave.
The dressing room situation became more tense when Ruben Amorim was unhappy with Onana's attitude. After the summer break, the 29-year-old returned to Carrington and immediately requested a new contract, despite being pushed to the bench in two important matches against Newcastle and Aston Villa at the end of last season, as well as making a serious mistake in the Europa League final against Tottenham.
Onana's salary increase request comes as the whole team's salary is cut by 25% after Man United failed to qualify for the Champions League, making it even more difficult for the board to accept. Sir Jim Ratcliffe even publicly listed Onana, Antony, Casemiro, Rasmus Hojlund and Jadon Sancho in the group "need to be liquidated".
Not only Onana and Bayindir, another name that is attracting attention from the Middle East is Harry Maguire. According to British media, the centre-back is on the radar of at least two teams in the Saudi Pro League. However, the former Man United captain will only seriously consider the possibility of leaving after the end of the season, instead of right in the early stages of the 2025-2026 campaign.
