How Andre Onana can improve Manchester United next season as David De Gea exit confirmed

Erik ten Hag has shown his ruthless edge once again with the release of David De Gea, and the Manchester United boss will feel vindicated if he can get a deal over the line for Andre Onana.

De Gea became a free agent upon the expiry of his contract last weekend after failing to agree fresh terms. On Saturday, the goalkeeper confirmed he would call time on a 12-year career at Old Trafford with Ten Hag already in the process of finding a replacement.

The Dutchman is keen to bring in a No.1 who can better fit his tactical demands, that being someone who can play out from the back as comfortably as his central defenders. He has seemingly set his sights on Onana, currently at Inter Milan but previously of Ten Hag's Ajax.

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The Manchester Evening News reported on Saturday both United and Inter were confident a deal would be done, with football director John Murtough entering extensive talks with the Serie A side in a bid to accelerate the move. There is hope Onana can join the squad in the United States with their first game against Arsenal in two weeks.

To the naked eye, Onana suits Ten Hag to a tee. The 27-year-old is confident coming out of his box, calm in possession and - a forgotten strength of goalkeepers nowadays - good at keeping the ball out of the net. And the numbers behind his brilliant season at the San Siro back that up. Onana's in-possession statistics - as per fbref.com - highlight the major improvement he would bring to United, particularly when compared with De Gea's.

In domestic action (Serie A or the Premier