Man Utd and Andre Onana hit with humiliating transfer twist that sums his current form up

Andre Onana was brought in to replace David De Gea as Manchester United's first-choice goalkeeper but is expected to be subject to an upgrade himself in the summer transfer window.

Man Utd will end the 2024-25 season in the bottom seven places of the Premier League and won't play European football in 2025-26.

Head coach Ruben Amorim has been unable to arrest the deterioration of United's fortunes under predecessor Erik ten Hag and defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final slammed the door on the unexpected salvation of a Champions League place.

Onana hasn't been the cause or even at the centre of all of United's problems this season but his performances in goal, in particular errors leading directly to goals, have put him in the spotlight.

With improvement required in all departments, it's likely that United would listen to serious offers for the Cameroonian goalkeeper.

Saudi Pro League clubs are set to feature heavily in the Premier League's outbound transfers in the summer window and there is reported interest in Onana, notably from newly promoted Pro League club Neom.

But a humiliating twist has damaged his chances of a lucrative escape route from away from Old Trafford: Neom think they can do better.

"Neom management has halted negotiations with Onana and is waiting for better options," according to Middle East football journalist Ahmed Ragab, who covers the game in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

It's hardly the vote of confidence a player wants to hear and won't do much to strengthen the hand of his representatives if talks resume.

Andre Onana (Image: Getty)

Onana joined United in the summer of 2023, reuniting with former Ajax boss Ten Hag after a single season in Serie A with Inter Milan.

The 29-year-old has endured a couple of difficult years in English football.

Individual mistakes have combined with dismal results for United as a whole to decimate his reputation and his comments prior to the Red Devils' Europa League quarter-final tie against Lyon exposed him to ridicule from all quarters, not least the opposition.

"If you are one of the worst goalkeepers in Man United history, you need to take care what you’re talking about," said Lyon's former United midfielder Nemanja Matic.