Manchester United’s Onana exit and Sesko gamble raise big questions ahead of City derby

Manchester United face a huge challenge this Sunday when they travel across town to meet Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. Both teams have had a tough season so far, but the pressure is heavier on Ruben Amorim’s side because of their poor performances over the past year.

United went into the recent international break on a positive note as they registered a 3-2 win over Burnley, their first victory of the season. Now, Amorim’s side will look to pull off an upset at Etihad, with City currently struggling after back-to-back defeats against Brighton and Tottenham.

United face dilemma in goal

However, United head into the derby with some big issues, with one being Andre Onana’s likely exit from the club. Onana, who recently featured for Cameroon in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, is not expected to return as he prepares to join the Turkish Super Lig side Trabzonspor on loan.

According to The Athletic, the 29-year-old goalkeeper will almost double his wages with the move thanks to a big signing-on fee and bonuses. His exit will leave United with a dilemma to choose between their other three goalkeepers, including the latest signing of Senne Lammens.

Butt questions Sesko’s signing

Meanwhile, transfer questions are also hanging over the squad. Former United midfielder Nicky Butt has expressed doubts over the decision to sign 22-year-old Benjamin Sesko instead of going for a proven Premier League striker like Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins.

Butt warned that young strikers need experienced support and said United risk repeating mistakes made with Rasmus Hojlund, who was eventually released on loan to Serie A club Napoli on the final day of the summer transfer window on September 1.

“I hope I’m wrong but I really hope they aren’t making the same mistakes with [Benjamin] Sesko as they did with Rasmus [Hojlund]. Honestly, for what it would have cost, I would have gone and brought in someone like Ollie Watkins, someone to help and pull the young strikers out of a bad patch,” Butt said.

“When young players are just coming into the club, when the onus is on them to score goals, if they’re having a few bad games they have to have the safety net of being pulled out of the firing line. Ollie Watkins, or someone like that, would be who I would have been looking to bring in,” he added.