Man Utd must stop messing about - axe Onana and bid £40m for elite replacement

The signing of Bryan Mbeumo might finally be over the line, but the hard work has only just begun for Ruben Amorim this summer. The arrival of the Brentford forward undoubtedly boosts the attacking ranks at Old Trafford and has paved the way for Marcus Rashford to be removed from the wage bill amid his loan move to Barcelona.

It will take more than a new wide forward to solve the problems that plagued United last season, though. Issues remain defensively, with the Portuguese boss having thus far struggled to successfully implement his customary back-three formation. A bigger problem, however, is the player in gloves behind them.

It's been two years since Andre Onana signed a £43.8million deal from Inter Milan. Since then, the Cameroon international has had one-off performances, big moments, and a return to the first team fray this year after briefly being axed in favour of Altay Bayindir.

However, in his 101 club games, the 29-year-old has provided little indication that he possesses the consistency, physical robustness, or temperament to be a long-term success in England. Amorim has shown his ruthless side with the treatment of Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho, and now, he must get serious over his No.1.

Hence, the club's behaviour over their pursuit of Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez is baffling. They've reportedly had a loan bid rightly rejected by their Premier League rivals, seemingly an attempt to acquire a World Cup winner without spending big.

For a club that has forked out £71m for Mbeumo, not to mention the inflated prices paid for underperforming stars in recent seasons, it's a strange stance. At 32, the Martinez fee is unlikely to break the bank, but if United want to become a serious threat again, they must submit a serious bid.

Martinez is said to be available for a £40m fee. Given United's failure to secure European football last season, it's not a price to be sniffed at, but at the same time, in an affordable figure that should be offset by the sale of Onana.

His current hamstring injury should increase the sense of urgency. Whether Amorim's team adapt better to his 3-4-3 style next season remains to be seen, but it will prove futile if he continues with an unreliable keeper behind it.