Manchester United's Goalkeeping Overhaul: Angus Gunn Leads the Charge

Manchester United are preparing for a major reset in their goalkeeping department, with Angus Gunn emerging as a leading target in a summer that could see both Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir moved on.

Old Trafford’s recruitment team have zeroed in on the Scotland international as they look to inject experience and reliability behind a reshaped side. Gunn, who recently featured for Scotland in World Cup fixtures against Haiti, Morocco and Brazil, has impressed enough to move towards the top of United’s list.

There is history driving this interest. The former Norwich City goalkeeper knows United’s director of football, Jason Wilcox, from their shared spell at Manchester City’s academy. That long-standing connection has helped put Gunn firmly on the radar at a time when United want certainty, not experiments, between the posts.

Onana and Bayindir pushed towards the exit

The shake-up is not subtle. United have made a clear internal decision: both Onana and Bayindir are up for sale.

Onana, signed amid huge fanfare from Inter, has been explicitly told the club intend to cash in during the current window. For now, he remains part of the planning board. Unless a deal is agreed, the Cameroonian is still expected back at Carrington for early pre-season in two weeks’ time.

His situation is delicate. If negotiations drag, Onana could yet appear in United’s summer friendlies, including the meeting with Wrexham in Helsinki on July 18 and the trip to Rosenborg on July 24. It would be a curious twist: a goalkeeper the club are actively trying to move on, potentially back in a United shirt while his future is being haggled over.

Bayindir’s path looks more straightforward. The Turkey international is widely expected to return to his homeland, with a move to Besiktas under discussion. First comes a breather. He is due back from an extended three-week holiday after Turkey’s early World Cup exit to Australia and Paraguay, after which his next club should become clearer.

Lammens installed as No 1 – but not left alone

Amid the churn, one position is settled. Senne Lammens has nailed down the No 1 spot at Old Trafford since his debut against Sunderland last October. The young Belgian has grown into the role, convincing staff he can handle the pressure that comes with the shirt.

But United’s calendar is about to swell. With elite Champions League football returning next season, the club do not want to walk into a packed fixture list with a single trusted option.

That is where Gunn comes in. The 28-year-old offers experience at international level and a calmer profile to complement Lammens’ emergence. United are not looking for a ceremonial deputy; they want genuine competition, a goalkeeper who can step straight into high-stakes European nights if required.

They have cast the net wider too. Leeds United’s veteran Karl Darlow has been monitored as another possible piece in the puzzle, a steady, battle-tested option who knows English football inside out.

Vitek pushes back against backup role

Not everyone is content to wait their turn.

Radek Vitek, returning from a loan spell, has made it clear he does not want to come back to Old Trafford as a token understudy. His stance complicates United’s planning. The club must decide whether to promise him a credible route to minutes or move him on to keep the dressing room aligned behind the new hierarchy.

What is certain is that United intend to walk into the new season with clarity in goal, not compromise.

Countdown to Hull

Time is not on their side. The Premier League opener at newly promoted Hull City on August 22 looms as an immediate stress test for whatever goalkeeping unit emerges from this overhaul.

By then, United expect to have a defined No 1, an experienced challenger, and no lingering uncertainty over Onana or Bayindir.

The names on the teamsheet may change. The expectation will not.