Manchester United agree second Trabzonspor loan for out-of-favour Onana

Manchester United have agreed in principle to loan André Onana back to Trabzonspor for a second successive season, with club sources confirming a deal between the two sides is close to being finalised.

Onana, signed from Inter Milan for £47.2 million in the summer of 2023 as a replacement for David de Gea, spent the entirety of last season in Turkey after falling out of favour at Old Trafford. His distribution was initially seen as a key asset, but a series of costly errors eroded confidence in him and he was shipped out on loan last summer.

Despite a managerial change at United, Onana’s prospects in Manchester have not improved. The Cameroonian impressed during his time with Trabzonspor, helping the club win the Turkish Cup against Konyaspor in May, but a return to the first-team picture has not been forthcoming.

United have opted against bringing Onana back to compete with new first-choice goalkeeper Senne Lammens. The club felt that Onana’s significant salary and prominent personality would make it untenable to keep him as a backup, where he would inevitably become a distraction. Sending him back to Trabzonspor also removes the awkward prospect of him reporting for pre-season training while actively seeking a move elsewhere.

The situation behind Lammens remains unresolved. United are open to selling Altay Bayindir if a suitable offer arrives, but losing the Turkish international without a replacement would leave them short of a second goalkeeper, potentially forcing them into the transfer market before the window closes.