The Turkey international’s costly error against Arsenal has further underlined the Red Devils’ need to sign a new No.1 before the window closes
Manchester United’s lack of a reliable goalkeeper has been the elephant in the room throughout the summer transfer window, and on Sunday against Arsenal it started swinging its trunk around while making a deafening trumpet sound. Thousands of heads fell into their hands at Old Trafford when Altay Bayindir palmed Declan Rice’s corner back towards his goal-line and onto the grateful head of Ricardo Calafiori – and to think that some United fans thought that Andre Onana missing the game was a good thing!…
Bayindir’s error cost United at least a point from a game that Ruben Amorim justifiably claimed his side should have won, and thus gave the coach another strong argument to make to sporting director Jason Wilcox about the need to sign another ‘keeper. Although he would never say it publicly, it seems evident that Amorim does not truly trust Onana or Bayindir, or indeed third-choice Tom Heaton.
He did not exactly give a stern defence of Onana when he made two massive errors against Lyon last season, and indeed dropped him for the following game at Newcastle to take the Cameroonian out of the firing line. Nor did Amorim properly defend Bayindir’s abilities on Sunday, only pointing to when he last faced Arsenal in January’s FA Cup tie. The Turkey goalkeeper did do himself proud that day, saving Martin Odegaard’s penalty in normal time and proving the hero in the shootout, but it was practically the only good performance he has produced since signing for United from Fenerbahce – where fans grew so frustrated with him that one hurled a water bottle at him. Bayindir has conceded 21 times in his 12 games with United, and made at least three errors that have directly led to goals.
So with just two weeks to go until the transfer window closes, GOAL takes a look at the goalkeepers United should be looking to sign so they no longer have to rely upon Onana and Bayindir…