Manchester United have been told to make a move for Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope as doubts persist over whether Andre Onana will be fit for the start of the new season
Manchester United have been urged to make a move for Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope amid ongoing uncertainty over Andre Onana‘s comeback date. United’s No.1 has been sidelined for every pre-season fixture following a hamstring injury he picked up in training last month.
Onana remains optimistic about being ready for the kick-off of the new Premier League campaign, though the Cameroonian could still be ruled out. Even if declared fit, question marks continue to hang over the 29-year-old’s displays following a string of costly blunders last season.
Former United and Wrexham keeper Ben Foster has now urged his old side to pursue Pope, insisting they are “crying out” for fresh goalkeeping talent. The 10-cap England star moved to Newcastle from Burnley for £10million in 2022, though now faces a new rivalry for his spot after the Magpies sealed Aaron Ramsdale‘s arrival on loan from Southampton last week.
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“Manchester United are absolutely crying out for a goalkeeper,” Foster said on his Fozcast podcast. “You’d do so much worse than getting Nick Pope. I think it would be a fantastic fit, I really do.
“If you’re looking to get it to the forward areas as quickly as possible, Nick Pope’s your boy and he’ll stop goals. Onana’s had this big injury at the start of pre-season and he’s looking like he’ll only get that fit maybe just for the start of the season.
“But you don’t want that from your goalkeeper. You want him to have had four or five pre-season games and weeks and weeks of training.
“There were also a lot of questions raised at the end of last season thinking that he’s probably not going to be the first choice goalkeeper. Nick Pope will be looking at this thinking, ‘Hmm.'”.
Pope has featured 95 times for Newcastle in all competitions, and Leeds United are amongst the clubs reportedly keen on the 33-year-old. Nevertheless, uncertainty surrounds whether the Magpies would be prepared to sanction his departure, with Eddie Howe anticipated to use Ramsdale as competition for Pope rather than as his replacement.
United have been connected with numerous shot-stoppers this summer, including AC Milan‘s Mike Maignan and Emiliano Martinez. The Daily Mail claimed earlier this summer that United even made a bold bid to secure Martinez from Aston Villa on loan, though prospects of a deal were swiftly extinguished.
United boss Ruben Amorim has utilised both Altay Bayindir and Tom Heaton throughout pre-season owing to Onana’s fitness concerns. Despite scrutiny surrounding United’s current number one, Amorim voiced faith in Onana’s capabilities last week and seemingly dismissed speculation that he’s hunting for fresh competition.
“I think even when you talk about Andre, you can see the goalkeepers,” Amorim said. “Even Tom is leaner, he’s a different goalkeeper. Altay did really well, and Onana is going to be better, like the other guys, this year.
“I think we are better in every detail, in the organisation of the day-by-day. The nutrition is better, the way we cook, what we eat, how we prepare training.
“I think that we are more organised. I think we have people now that help us to be better. I’m not concerned with small things and I was last year.
“Those things help us and help me to think more about watching the game, watching the team. So it’s a big help for me. When it’s a big help for the technical staff, it’s a big help for the players.”
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Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
