Not just Onana: £85k-p/w Man Utd star now looks finished under Amorim

Anger has largely been replaced by acceptance among those of a Manchester United persuasion, with Sunday’s FA Cup penalty shootout defeat at the hands of Fulham having almost been met by a sense of inevitability among those in Old Trafford.

To their credit, the United faithful stuck by their team even in the wake of that latest setback for Ruben Amorim and his charges, with the Stretford End uniting in a chorus of cheers for a crestfallen Joshua Zirkzee, following the Dutchman’s inability to convert the decisive spot-kick on the day.

That tame spot-kick does, however, ensure that the club have even one less thing to play for heading into the final months of this disastrous campaign, with all the Red Devils’ eggs now placed in the Europa League basket, in the bid to secure an unlikely Champions League qualification.

On the evidence of the weekend disappointment, even getting into the quarter-final stage of the continent’s second-tier competition will be a tough ask, with United in real danger of allowing the season to fade out with a whimper.

Attention then will largely turn toward the summer window and what will be yet another crucial squad overhaul for those at the Theatre of Dreams, with key decisions needing to be made all across the pitch – starting with the goalkeeper.

Andre Onana’s frustrating performance vs Fulham

On the face of it, Andre Onana can reflect on a solid showing against the Cottagers last time out, having notably pulled off a handful of key saves to take the game to penalties, including a fine sprawling dive to deny Emile Smith Rowe’s curling strike.

Unfortunately for the hosts, the experienced shot-stopper was far less effective when the shootout rolled around, producing a string of “early” dives – as noted by journalist Daniel Storey – which handed a real advantage to Marco Silva’s men.

Not only did the former Inter man fail to get close to any of the away side’s four spot-kicks, but he also regularly drew the ire of those inside the Theatre of Dreams for taking an age to carry out each goal-kick, with the Cameroonian seemingly content to allow the seconds to tick by, even amid the need to chase a winner.

Fresh off the back of his involvement in both of Ipswich’s goals in midweek, the 28-year-old – who has made three errors leading to a goal in the Premier League this season – hardly did himself any favours on Sunday evening, with it somewhat unfortunate that Amorim has no able deputy to call upon, following the loss of both Altay Bayindir and Tom Heaton to injury.

Onana’s short-term future may then be safe, yet while he is also seemingly keen to stay put in Manchester for the 2025/26 campaign, consideration must surely be made regarding a change in the sticks, with reports in recent weeks suggesting that Amorim is craving a new number one.

If the one-time Ajax man was to be sent for the exit door this summer, it would be no surprise if he were to be joined by a man who also arrived at the club almost two years ago – Rasmus Hojlund.

The Man Utd star who looks finished under Amorim

There were audible groans directed toward Onana amid his hesitancy when getting the game restarted, yet the club’s number 24 wasn’t the only villain on the day, with young Hojlund also the subject of ironic jeers as he left the field just after the hour mark.

The struggling striker – who has now gone 18 games without a goal in all competitions – was again rather lifeless up against compatriot Joachim Andersen, having also notably lashed a rare effort wide inside the first half.

Remarkably, that attempt was one of just nine total touches that the Dane recorded on the day, having also lost the ball on five occasions and failed to complete a single attempted dribble, as well as winning just one of his five total duels.

Signed for £64m in the summer of 2023, the ex-Atalanta marksman did end last term as United’s top scorer with 16 goals across all fronts, yet a return of 23 goals in 73 games for the club in all marks a relatively meagre haul for such a costly addition.

The 21-year-old’s ongoing woes were also further exposed by the lively display of his replacement, 17-year-old Chido Obi, with the teenage sensation having been far more involved at the top end of the pitch.

Indeed, the former Arsenal youth asset lashed an effort wide after turning Calvin Bassey inside the area, while also seeing his close range effort saved by Bernd Leno from the angle.

Those missed attempts indicated that the new arrival remains rather raw, but the ability to create chances for himself – in contrast to Hojlund – was rather telling, having also been far more effective with regard to his hold-up play, having enjoyed an 80% pass accuracy rate and completed 100% of his dribbles.

Frustratingly, Obi isn’t actually eligible to feature in the Europa League, having been left off United’s updated squad list last month, ensuring Hojlund will remain as Amorim’s sole centre-forward option for the remainder of the competition.

That reprieve for the more ‘senior’ striker should seemingly be a short-term one, however, and with Serie A interest mounting ahead of the summer, a hasty exit could be in store for United’s number nine.

There is potential there, of course, as Hojlund showcased last season, yet having already been upstaged by an inexperienced teenager in recent weeks, it certainly looks as if the £85k-per-week enigma is on borrowed time under Amorim.

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