Manchester United have been urged to replace Andre Onana and bring in a world-class striker like Harry Kane to reclaim their place among Europe’s elite. Former United goalkeeper Tim Howard believes a major squad overhaul is essential, warning that the club’s current state is far from its dominant past.
Since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, United have fallen behind rivals like Liverpool, Arsenal, and Manchester City. Currently sitting 14th in the Premier League, their struggles highlight the need for significant changes in the squad. Howard insists it will take at least two transfer windows for manager Ruben Amorim to reshape the team according to his vision.
Howard praised Amorim’s tactical awareness and past success at Sporting Lisbon but emphasized that winning in England is an entirely different challenge. He stressed that United’s squad lacks the quality needed to compete at the highest level and that a substantial clear-out is necessary. While he supports Amorim’s approach, he believes judgment should be reserved until the manager has had time to make the required adjustments.
One potential change Howard suggested is replacing Onana, who joined for £47 million but has endured a mixed season at Old Trafford. While Onana initially showed promise, recent performances have raised concerns about his consistency and distribution. Howard believes that while Onana can still refine his game, his limitations may prevent him from being the long-term solution for United’s goalkeeping position.
Despite these concerns, Howard does not see replacing Onana as the club’s top priority. He believes that strengthening the squad in front of him could help stabilize his performances. However, if Onana does not improve, Howard suggests that a change in goal may become necessary.
A more pressing issue for United is their lack of firepower in attack. Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have struggled, with only five league goals between them. With Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo leading the club’s scoring charts at just six goals each, United’s attacking struggles are evident.
Howard believes signing an experienced European striker is crucial, and he pointed to Kane as the ideal addition. The former Tottenham star, now thriving at Bayern Munich, remains one of the world’s best forwards. Howard argues that acquiring Kane would be a massive step toward making United competitive again.
Kane left the Premier League as the second-highest goalscorer in history, trailing only Alan Shearer. While enjoying great success in Germany, he may consider returning to England to break Shearer’s record. If United manage to bring him back, Howard believes they would be well on their way to restoring their former glory.