Gary Neville has urged Manchester United to sign a new goalkeeper after Altay Bayidnir’s error against Arsenal.
The Turkish shot stopper started in Andre Onana’s absence as United slipped to a 1-0 defeat in their opening match of the season against Mikel Arteta’s side, with Ricardo Calafiori heading home the decisive goal.
Calafiori was able to nod in after Bayindir unconvincingly attempted the punch the ball clear from a Declan Rice corner, but send the ball towards the far post.
And United legend Neville insists the goalkeeping department is a major concert that must be addressed before the summer transfer window closes.
He said on Sky Sports: ‘There is a glaring issue for United that cannot be ignored and that is they need to find a new goalkeeper. ‘They have to, I am absolutely unequivocal on that.
‘I have experience at United for 20 years where there were two big periods of seven or eight years with [Peter] Schmeichel and [Edwin] Van der Sar, and in between we had seven or eight goalkeepers in a seven or eight year period.
Gary Neville has urged Manchester United to sign a new goalkeeper this summer
Altay Bayindir’s error resulted in Riccardo Calafiori’s goal for Arsenal on Sunday
Bayindir joined the club in 2023 and has been criticised for several high-profile errors
‘It is really unsettling when you don’t have a dominant No 1 who owns his six-yard box, who comes and punches everything and makes saves to save you points when your defenders make mistakes.’
Neville says there two goalkeepers that United should target to solve their issues in the position.
He added: ‘The two you look at that have been mentioned in the last few weeks are (Gianluigi) Donnarumma and (Emiliano) Martinez.
‘The reason I say those two would be good goalkeepers for Man United is not necessarily because I think they are the best goalkeepers in Europe or that they are amazing.
‘I think they have got big personalities and characters. You have seen Donnarumma in a European final for Italy save those penalties and look like a giant, you have seen him play for PSG in huge games under pressure.
‘Martinez has won a World Cup, they have played under extreme pressure and have big personalities and characters, the arrogance of a goalkeeper.
‘They need to sort the goalkeeper out as they will continue to concede goals and points and it undermines what they are doing.’
Bayindir joined the club from Fenerbahce in September 2023 but has been criticised for several high-profile errors, particularly when conceding from set-pieces.
Neville says should target Gianluigi Donnarumma (right) and Emiliano Martinez to solve their goalkeeping issues
Ruben Amorim revealed pre-match that Onana had not made the squad because of Bayindir’s pre-season performances
Meanwhile, Onana, who United were open to allowing to leave this summer, took part in training during pre-season but was not deemed sharp enough to start against Arsenal.
United are believed to have kept tabs on Donnarumma and Antwerp stopper Senne Lammens but have not yet moved for either with Onana still at the club.
Ruben Amorim revealed pre-match that Onana had not made the squad because of the performances of United’s other goalkeepers during pre-season.
‘No, he recovered,’ Amorim told MUTV when asked if Onana was still injured.
‘But the other guys did so well during pre-season, so I need to balance that.’
