Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has been warned that new signing Andre Onana will give him “several heart attacks” with his casualness on the ball. Liverpool legend Graeme Souness says the jury is still out on whether the goalkeeper is an upgrade on David de Gea.
United completed a deal for Onana earlier this week. They will pay just over £47million for the former Cameroon international including add-ons.
He is a direct replacement for De Gea as the club’s No 1, who left at the end of his contract in June. The Spaniard came under criticism in his final few years at Old Trafford, largely due to his uncomfortable nature with the ball at his feet.
That is one of Onana’s key attributes and he displayed them for all to see in Inter Milan’s run to the Champions League final last season. Souness says there is no doubt he is better than De Gea in that regard.
However, he has questioned whether overall as a goalkeeper that there is a marked difference. The former Sky Sports pundit also thinks his casualness will leave Ten Hag and United fans with hearts in their mouths.
Souness, speaking on Premier League fans’ hopes, views and predictions from the Sky Bet Fan Hope Survey, said: “Well, in terms of pure goalkeeping i.e., using your hands, let’s see if he [Onana] is an upgrade – I’m not sure. David de Gea in his first four or five seasons at Manchester United won the Player of the Year.
“And then in recent years he has not been so good, like all goalkeepers he had some howlers but he’s not top-notch with his feet and obviously Erik ten Hag wants someone who is.
“Andre Onana is a guy who, if you’re a coach, will give you several heart attacks when he’s got the ball at his feet. He’s extremely casual when people are closing him down.
“He is a good kicker of the ball, he can ping it, he can draw it and complete it. It’s an important part of the game because him coming out to play and being that good on the wall gives you another player outside the box.
“It’s as good as that. But he will make mistakes like we all make mistakes because occasionally you’ll end up making a mistake with a passing mix in a very dangerous area.”
Stay connected with us on social media platform for instant update click here to join our Twitter, & Facebook
We are now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@TechiUpdate) and stay updated with the latest Technology headlines.
For all the latest Football News Click Here
