Former Manchester United midfielder Quinton Fortune believes André Onana could still rebuild his reputation at another Premier League club, with Chelsea among the sides he has identified as a potential destination for the Cameroon international.
Onana’s Manchester United career has taken another difficult turn after the goalkeeper was sent out on a second consecutive season-long loan, this time to Turkish club Trabzonspor. But while his future at Old Trafford remains uncertain, Fortune believes the 30-year-old still possesses qualities that could make him valuable to a Premier League side.
Chelsea have been mentioned as one potential destination, with the London club yet to settle their goalkeeping position despite spending more than £300 million during the summer under new manager Xabi Alonso.
Robert Sanchez remains Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper, but his performances have continued to attract criticism from supporters, leaving the position as one of the areas that could still be strengthened.
Fortune sees Onana’s distribution as a major asset
Fortune believes Onana’s ability with the ball at his feet could make him particularly attractive to clubs that want their goalkeeper to play an active role in building attacks.
The former United midfielder identified Chelsea, Newcastle United and Aston Villa as Premier League clubs that could benefit from the goalkeeper’s qualities.
Speaking to Premier Bet, Fortune said “André Onana could be an asset to Chelsea, Newcastle United or Aston Villa in the Premier League.”
“You can see the quality for playing out from the back, as many managers now want with their style of football; he can be your starting point.”
That aspect of Onana’s game was one of the qualities that made him an attractive signing for Manchester United when he arrived from Inter Milan in 2023.
His ability to receive possession under pressure and deliver long, accurate passes can allow a team to bypass the opposition’s first line of pressure and immediately launch attacks further up the pitch.
Fortune believes that quality remains among Onana’s biggest strengths.
“When you’ve got a goalkeeper like Onana who can ping a ball 50, 60 yards to your striker or midfielder and break the lines with his passes, that can make a huge difference, and he’s one of the best at it.”
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The problem for Onana has been that his distribution has often been overshadowed by mistakes during his Manchester United spell.
The Cameroon goalkeeper struggled for consistency after arriving at Old Trafford, with high-profile errors increasing the pressure on him and eventually contributing to his departure on loan.
Fortune acknowledged that the goalkeeper needs to rediscover his confidence if he is to return to the level that made him one of Europe’s most highly regarded ball-playing goalkeepers.
“He just needs to find his confidence again now because when a goalkeeper makes a mistake, unfortunately, the whole world sees it.”
The former United midfielder remains convinced, however, that Onana can still thrive in a system that places a premium on playing from the back.
“I hope he can get back to his best because when you need a goalkeeper to play out from the back, he can be outstanding.”
Could Chelsea provide the reset?
The club have invested heavily in Alonso’s squad but have yet to make a definitive change in goal, with Sanchez continuing to occupy the starting position despite criticism of his performances.
Onana would represent a significant gamble given his recent struggles, but his familiarity with Premier League football and his technical ability could make him an intriguing option if Chelsea decide they need competition or a replacement between the posts.
