Man United star Andre Onana ‘is a little bit nervous’ of losing his No 1 spot to Altay Bayindir, Mail Sport’s Chris Wheeler tells It’s All Kicking Off after his latest howler in 3-3 Champions League draw with Galatasaray

• Andre Onana is fearful over losing his place in the side, says Chris Wheeler 
• Onana’s latest howler came in the 3-3 draw with Galatasaray on Wednesday 
• Sir Jim Ratcliffe could be Erik ten Hag’s biggest threat – Listen to why on It’s All Kicking Off!

Mail Sport’s Manchester United expert Chris Wheeler has claimed that Andre Onana fears for his place in the side on the latest episode of It’s All Kicking Off, in the wake of yet another blunder for the Red Devils.

United squandered a two-goal lead to draw 3-3 draw against Galatasaray on Wednesday in the Champions League, with the Cameroonian stopper at fault for the hosts’ second in their comeback. 

Former Ajax and Chelsea star Hakim Ziyech sent in an in-swinging free-kick from around 30 yards out off to the left of the goal, and with the ball seemingly going straight into Onana’s arms.

However, he misjudged the flight of the ball, and instead it came off his left arm as he bent to collect, and it flew straight through him and into the back of the net, having looked a routine stop. 

Now, with Onana set to join Cameroon in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in January, Wheeler suggested that he was looking over his shoulder at fellow summer signing Altay Bayindir, who will likely step in in his absence.  

Andre Onana will be fearing for his place in the side after the Africa Cup of Nations, claimed Chris Wheeler

Mail Sport’s Manchester United expert Wheeler appeared on the latest episode of It’s All Kicking Off

The Cameroonian keeper’s latest blunder came on Wednesday in the 3-3 draw at Galatasaray

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‘I think it has to be an option,’ Wheeler told Ian Ladyman, when asked if there is a chance Onana could be dropped. ‘I think it has to be an option because of the mistakes that Onana’s made, of the uncertainty that spread to the back four. 

‘Let’s not forget, he does have a good No 2. We’ve not seen him yet, but we’re told Altay Bayindir came in for £4.3million in the summer from Fenerbahce. 

‘He’s a good keeper and it’s no secret that I think Onana is a little bit nervous going into the Africa Cup of Nations, that if Bayindir gets his chance, Onana will not get his place back. 

‘At this rate, his place could be gone long before AFCON comes around.’

Onana arrived under heavy billing as one of the leading sweeper-keepers in Europe, having impressed with his footwork for Inter Milan in their run to the Champions League final. 

However the reality has been somewhat short of the expectations of many United fans, and the stopper has been the subject of plenty of scrutiny following a number of high-profile errors.

Ten Hag has continued to back his player, though, having brought his former Ajax keeper to Old Trafford, but Wheeler also insinuated that his continued poor form could damage Ten Hag’s reputation. 

‘I think it’s a big question now for Erik ten Hag because he’s put such great stock in Onana as a keeper playing out from the back. 

Manchester United led 2-0 in the first half before falling to a bruising 3-3 draw in Istanbul

Altay Bayindir is yet to make an appearance for the club but did come off the bench for Turkey against Wales in Cardiff earlier this month

‘So it isn’t just dropping a player, I think his own credibility is at stake here too. It’s a massive call, but one that if this continues, he’s going to have to do it.’

Bayindir is yet to make his debut for United after his transfer from Turkey, but did take to the field for Turkey against Wales earlier this month. 

Fans seemed to be pleased with what they saw in the international break, and will likely get a much better look at their new signing should Cameroon go deep into the competition.   

United let go two goalkeepers in the transfer window, with last season’s Golden Glove winner David De Gea released without a contract extension and Dean Henderson joining Crystal Palace, which has raised questions over the club’s recruitment policy. 

‘I know Tom Heaton’s at the club as well, but they started the season with two goalkeepers, neither of whom had any Premier League experience at all,’ said Ladyman. 

Wheeler added: ‘I think the whole goalkeeping thing’s been handled really badly. I think the way that David De Gea left the club was messy. You know, a guy who’d given such good service, he’d broken all the records. 

Ian Ladyman pointed out that neither Onana nor Bayindir had any Premier League experience at the start of the season

‘If you’re going to get rid of him, fine, then do it right. You know, do let the guy go in a full stadium, wave goodbye. And it kind of dragged on. It was messy. It was unseemly. The club didn’t really seem to know what it was doing.

‘The Onana thing came up. It was there throughout the summer they signed him, like you say, no experience in the Premier League whatsoever. It hasn’t worked out so far. 

‘Bayindir’s come in but we’ve not seen him yet. But yeah, it seems that they’ve gone from having David De Gea, long-serving, very capable goalkeeper and of course Dean Henderson, who was the England goalkeeper at one stage, and yet they’ve seemed to have kind of ushered those two out of the door. 

‘They’ve kind of flipped the coin really and it’s not paying off so far certainly. The goalkeeper situation this season has been a problem, it was a problem last night of course and it’s something that Erik ten Hag needs to go and sort out.’

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify.

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