Ben Foster tells Manchester United they made a 'mistake' in signing Andre Onana

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster has criticised the decision to replace David de Gea with Andre Onana following the latter's poor start to the season.

De Gea remains a free agent after leaving United at the start of summer, following the expiration of his contract. Discussions had been ongoing over a new deal but fell through, with Erik ten Hag keen to get his own man through the door in order to fit his tactical demands.

United signed Andre Onana from Inter Milan for £47.2million, but an improvement in passing has been offset by other issues. The 27-year-old has made a string of errors and been beaten too easily, falling short in one-v-one duels - an area in which De Gea excelled.

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"Yes, without doubt, it's another mistake," Foster told The Cycling GK YouTube show of the decision to replace De Gea with Onana. "It's a mistake that didn't need to happen.

"It's like the Arsenal one with Raya. It doesn't need to happen. Genuinely, it's a position that was already set, already sorted. Just leave it."

Onana is still in the early part of his United career, with hope the Cameroon international can find confidence behind a more settled back-four. A number of injuries has left Ten Hag picking a makeshift defensive unit with weekly changes.

At different points in the opening two months of the campaign, United have been without Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia and Sergio Reguilon. There have also been issues in defensive midfield, with Casemiro often exposed and leaving his back four vulnerable.

Ten Hag has kept