Manchester United's Goalkeeping Rebuild: Angus Gunn Leads the Shortlist

Manchester United are preparing a ruthless reset of their goalkeeping department, with Scotland international Angus Gunn emerging as a leading target in a summer of sweeping change at Old Trafford.

Club recruitment staff have been tracking the experienced stopper as they look to add a battle-hardened presence behind emerging No 1 Senne Lammens. Gunn, who recently featured for Scotland in World Cup fixtures against Haiti, Morocco and Brazil, has moved to the forefront of United’s planning as they seek a calmer, more seasoned figure in a position that has felt unsettled for months.

Onana and Bayindir pushed towards exit

The interest in Gunn underlines the scale of the overhaul. United have made a firm internal decision to move on both Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir, a dramatic shift just a year after Onana arrived as a marquee signing.

Onana has been explicitly informed that the club intend to cash in on him during the current transfer window. The message is clear: if a suitable offer lands, United are ready to cut ties. Yet the situation is not entirely clean-cut. With no deal agreed, the Cameroonian is still scheduled to report back for early pre-season training in two weeks’ time and could even feature in upcoming friendlies if his move drags.

Bayindir’s fate looks more straightforward. The Turkish goalkeeper, who has struggled to make any meaningful impact, is widely expected to return to Turkey. A move to Besiktas is on the table, and he is due back from an extended three-week post-World Cup break, granted after Turkey’s early elimination by Australia and Paraguay, before resolving his future.

United’s stance on both keepers leaves no doubt: the hierarchy between the posts is being ripped up and rewritten.

Lammens installed as No 1 – but not left alone

In the middle of all this churn, one constant has emerged. Senne Lammens has quietly, and now decisively, established himself as United’s first-choice goalkeeper.

Since making his debut against Sunderland last October, the young Belgian has grown into the role and is now viewed internally as the undisputed No 1 at Old Trafford. His rise has been one of the more convincing stories of United’s season.

But the club’s return to elite Champions League football changes the equation. A heavier schedule, higher stakes, sharper opponents. United know they cannot lean solely on a young goalkeeper still learning the demands of the very top level.

That is where Gunn fits the picture. The 28-year-old offers experience, temperament and a profile that complements Lammens rather than blocks him. United want genuine competition, not a token understudy.

Leeds United’s veteran Karl Darlow has also been monitored as an alternative option, another sign that United are targeting keepers with years of English football behind them rather than raw potential.

Vitek pushes back against backup role

Not everyone is content to fall into line. Young loanee Radek Vitek, returning to the club this summer, has made it clear he has no interest in coming back simply to sit on the bench.

His stance adds another layer to an already crowded and complicated goalkeeping picture. United value his potential, but with Lammens in place and a move for a senior rival in motion, the pathway to minutes looks narrow. A decision will be needed: fight for a distant role in the pecking order, or move elsewhere for games.

Pre-season fixtures could feature Onana – for now

Timelines matter now. If Onana’s transfer stalls, he is expected to feature in United’s early pre-season fixtures, including a friendly against Wrexham in Helsinki on July 18 and another against Rosenborg on July 24.

Those matches could offer an awkward snapshot: a goalkeeper the club are actively trying to sell, still in United colours, still in goal, while his replacement is being lined up behind the scenes.

Bayindir’s return from holiday will also accelerate discussions over his proposed switch to Besiktas. United want clarity long before the competitive action starts.

They will need it. The rebuilt goalkeeping unit will face an immediate examination when United open their Premier League campaign away at newly promoted Hull City on August 22. By then, Old Trafford expects to know exactly who stands between the posts – and who has been pushed aside.