It has been suggested Manchester United would be an ‘excellent destination’ for Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, with one former Premier League goalkeeper labelling the Englishman ‘far better than Andre Onana’.
It’s fair to say the £43 million summer signing from Inter Milan has come in for his fair share of criticism since arriving at Old Trafford – Gary Neville might have had a point when he said life as the Manchester United number one is ‘the single most difficult position in English football’ – but you won’t find Erik ten Hag turning his back on Andre Onana any time soon.
Ten Hag worked with the Cameroon international at Ajax, and is confident that Onana will silence his critics.
Mark Schwarzer appears less convinced about the 27-year-old’s hopes of following in the footsteps of Peter Schmeichel, Edwin van der Sar and David de Gea, however, insisting that Man United could do a lot worse than take advantage of Aaron Ramsdale’s situation at Arsenal.
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“It’s a bit of a headscratcher to me,” the Middlesbrough and Australia legend begins, in conversation with Optus Sport. “Because he’s a top-quality goalkeeper. (Ramsdale is) is good with his feet, great on his line, and who can command his 18-yard box with ease.
“And yet his time at the Emirates is up, and he must leave for the good of his own career, his wellbeing and his quality. He needs to be playing week in, week out. He’s far too good to be sitting on the bench as a bit-part player at Arsenal.
“For me, there’s an obvious destination, too. Manchester United, I think, would also be an excellent destination for him.”
Ramsdale, who joined Arsenal in a £24 million deal from Sheffield United, has fallen behind David Raya in Mikel Arteta’s pecking order, and there is likely to be plenty of suitors for a man who established himself as one of the finest shot-stoppers in the division early on in his Emirates career.
Andre Onana yet to convince under Ten Hag
“He’s far better than Andre Onana in my opinion,” Schwarzer adds. “But probably not in Erik ten Hag’s opinion, as he will most likely stick with his summer signing given how much he’s backed him through his early struggles at Old Trafford so far.
“Manchester United could definitely do with Ramsdale, but I think their priorities lie elsewhere.”
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