Former Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor has explained why Manchester United target Amadou Onana could struggle at Old Trafford if he makes the move this summer.

The Red Devils are on the lookout for a new midfielder before the transfer deadline if funds allow but there are also rumours they want to bring in a striker, centre-back and a temporary left-back.

Erik ten Hag’s midfield has looked particularly weak in their opening two Premier League matches in which they were lucky to beat Wolves 1-0 and lost to Tottenham 2-0.

 

 

Various names have come up throughout the summer with Bayern Munich’s Ryan Gravenberch and Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat featuring particularly prominently across the football media.

Another player to be linked is Everton midfielder Onana but previous reports have said Man Utd would have to bid ‘at least £50m’ for the Belgium international to have a chance of landing him.

And former Premier League striker Agbonlahor reckons the Toffees could even ask for £60m with the Football Insider pundit claiming Man Utd will struggle to reach that fee at the moment.

Agbonlahor said: “I do like Onana. But it’s difficult when you’re in a team that isn’t performing. If you put him in a good team, you’d probably see a really, really good player come through.

 

 

“But it’s apparent that Man United need to sell players to bring any in. Is that going to be a problem when Onana is likely to cost around £60million?”

Ex-Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson reckons the addition of Scott McTominay in Ten Hag’s midfield will see a better performance from Man Utd this weekend.

Previewing Man Utd versus Nottingham Forest clash, Merson told Sportskeeda: “I’d be a bit worried about everyone at Manchester United at the moment, given the way they’ve started the season. They’re all playing for a massive football club, and everything will be analysed.

“It’s all right to play flair players like Mount and Fernandes in some games, but sometimes you need a player like McTominay. Man United are getting dominated in midfield, and they need to sort that out. Casemiro needs to get it together as well – when he doesn’t play at his best, they struggle.

“Manchester United aren’t playing very well at the moment, and I don’t think the manager knows what his best team is just yet. Nottingham Forest have pace on the counter and Man United are vulnerable at the back.

“In a difficult patch, however, you’d want a game against Forest at home, and I think United should be able to win this match.”

Man Utd could have a new signing in over the weekend with Turkish journalist Yagiz Sabuncuoglu claiming Fenerbahce goalkeeper Altay Bayindir will leave Istanbul ‘soon’ to fly for the second part of his medical in the UK.

A tweet on Sports Digitale read: ‘Manchester United’s new transfer, Altay Bayındır, arrived at Atatürk General Aviation Terminal to go to England. The national goalkeeper will leave Istanbul soon! He will go through a routine health check with Manchester United today and sign the official contract.’