LONDON: Andre Onana is close to leaving Manchester United to join Trabzonspor on loan until the end of the season, a move that could end his career at Old Trafford.
Onana’s future has been in doubt all summer after United signed new goalkeeper Senne Lammens from Antwerp for £21.7 million last week.
Despite assurances from close sources that Onana would stay, the Cameroonian player was informed that the club would not stop him if he wanted to move.
Discussions were immediately held with Trabzonspor who were at the time selling their main goalkeeper, Ugurcan Cakir, to Galatasaray.
As a result, a loan agreement was reached quickly and Onana is expected to join the Turkiye club before the transfer window closes on September 12.
Since arriving from Inter Milan for £47.2 million two years ago, Onana has failed to achieve the expected level of consistency and often makes big mistakes.
In fact, in his only appearance so far this season, he made another mistake as United were humiliated by Grimsby Town in the second round of the League Cup, with Altay Bayindir taking over the role for the Premier League action.
His situation became more difficult when he missed the entire pre-season following a hamstring injury on the second day of returning to training at Carrington last July.
United had previously offered Onana to Monaco for £30 million, while continuing to be linked with Lammens and Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez.
When United chose Lammens over Martinez last week, the club were said to be prepared to keep four senior goalkeepers with Onana expected to be at the Africa Cup of Nations early next year.
However, after the transfer window opened, the former Ajax goalkeeper chose to evaluate his options despite still having three years of contract at Old Trafford.
His move will open up space for Lammens to become United’s new first-choice goalkeeper with Bayindir and Tom Heaton as reserve goalkeepers.