"I’m rarely surprised at things in football" - Former Manchester United goalkeeper on why he's 'utterly shocked' by Andre Onana's comments

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Tim Howard has expressed his disbelief over recent comments made by current custodian Andre Onana. The United goalie had said that he would take a lot more risks this season.

The comment, while indicative of Onana's confidence and adventurous playing style, has raised eyebrows, particularly given Manchester United’s shaky recent defensive record.

Onana, who joined United from Inter Milan, has faced significant scrutiny since his arrival. Howard has said he was taken aback by the Cameroonian’s statement, telling NBC Sports (via GOAL);

"I’m rarely surprised at things in football. (But) I was utterly shocked to hear Onana say ‘be prepared I will take a lot more risks this season’ .He conceded 58 goals. That number has to come down.

"He can ill-afford to make too many mistakes. Some of the goals that went past him were very, very saveable. The fact he’s willing to take more risks, I guess ,is exciting and compelling. I wasn’t convinced last year, but right now he has a lot to prove. He has brilliant ability, but he hasn’t put that into place, and too many goals are going in that need to be saved."

Tim Howard played for Manchester United between 2003 and 2006 before moving to Everton, where he spent most of his Premier League career. In 77 outings across competitions, he kept 31 clean sheets and conceded 71 goals.

---

Manchester United reportedly identify alternatives for Manuel Ugarte

Manchester United are reportedly considering Sander Berge and Sofyan Amrabat as potential alternatives to their primary transfer target, Manuel Ugarte.

The PSG midfielder has been linked with a move to Old Trafford as United boss Erik ten Hag seeks to bolster his midfield. But his £52 million valuation is hindering his move, as the Parisians are unwilling to budge.

As per GiveMeSport, Manchester United have identified two solutions to this transfer saga: bargain a lower fee with PSG or sell a player to fund the purchase of Ugarte. The source also said what transfer expert Fabrizio Romano told them:

“Sell one more player, or if PSG decide to drop the price or change the formula of the deal. In these two cases, Manchester United can still go for Ugarte. Otherwise, they will go for a cheaper option. For example, they spoke to the agent of Sander Berge, they maintain contacts active also for Sofyan Amrabat.

“So there are some other options on the list, but for sure, the perfect signing, the perfect target, is still considered Manuel Ugarte.”

Manuel Ugarte was left out of PSG’s matchday squad for their 2024–25 Ligue 1 opener against Le Havre amid his transfer speculation. Likewise, Burnley’s Sander Berge was not involved in Burnley’s opening two Championship matches of the season.