Suggestion Man Utd star should be worried as Ten Hag is ‘obsessed’ by imminent signing
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is “obsessed” with Fenerbahce goalkeeper Altay Bayindir, according to one journalist, ahead of reported imminent move to Old Trafford.
The Red Devils signed Andre Onana, who should’ve conceded a penalty in his first competitive match at Old Trafford, earlier this summer as their new number one after David de Gea left on a free transfer at the end of June.
Ten Hag wanted to bring in a new goalkeeper capable of playing out from the back with their feet and Man Utd forked out €55m to Inter Milan to make the deal happen.
Dean Henderson is about to leave Man Utd to join Crystal Palace with the England international to have a medical with the Eagles tonight, leaving space for Ten Hag to bring in a back-up goalkeeper.
The Daily Telegraph‘s Mike McGrath wrote on Twitter: “Dean Henderson given permission to undergo a medical at Crystal Palace tonight ahead of potential move from Manchester United. The England goalkeeper, 26, scheduled to travel after #MUFC match against #NFFC.”
That paves the way for Man Utd to complete the signing of Bayindir from Fenerbahce with Sports Digitale journalist Yağız Sabuncuoğlu claiming yesterday that the Turkey international was on his way to England for the second part of his medical.
He wrote on Twitter: “Manchester United’s new transfer, Altay Bayindir, 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.”
And Dutch journalist Rian Rosendaal has suggested new signing Onana could have something to worry about with Man Utd boss Ten Hag ‘obsessed’ with Bayindir.
“Ten Hag personally likes Altay very much because he’s a young and developing goalkeeper. He’s only 25 and has a tall physique as a goalkeeper. Being 1.98m is a great advantage,” Rosendaal told Fanatik’s Ethem Sündük.
“The most important feature Ten Hag likes is that Altay uses his feet. Altay can use his feet more effectively… This seems to have greatly influenced the Dutch coach. Ten Hag is obsessed with him. He is also aware that he can get efficiency from Altay for a long time…”
Former Tottenham and Cameroon star Sebastien Bassong reckons Onana could divide opinion at Man Utd because he claims his compatriot has a “big mouth”.
Bassong told The Beautiful Game podcast: “I remember when Andre started in the national team, the first time he was third keeper, he always had a big mouth. He’s born to be a leader.
“He is Cameroonian. We call Cameroon the continent because it’s a different part of Africa. Andre is skilful, he could play number 10, number 6, he’s a proper baller, he’s unreal. He’s athletic, so agile.
“Some people will love him, some people will hate him. He’s younger so he’s fearless. Elders can see it as a disrespect because you can feel threatened and wish you could have been like him – ‘who does he think he is?’.
“He had that a lot, that he was mouthy, talking too much. It might take him to the highest and it will I reckon, because that’s his strength, but he’s going to have to learn when to use it and turn it up and down. That’s the magic key, he’ll get that with experience.”
