In Andre Onana, Manchester United are signing much more than just a

Even if you have only engaged with Manchester United in the most tangential of fashions over recent years, you will doubtless be aware that the player who stood between their goalposts for most of that time was not very good at passing a football. David de Gea was, at the peak of his powers, one of the Premier League’s outstanding shot stoppers. But the modern goalkeeping position needs more than a player who simply keeps the ball out of the net. Erik ten Hag and every other coach of an elite level club want a No.1 who sets their team on a path to the opposition penalty area.

Enter Andre Onana. Manchester United are set to sign the Inter goalkeeper for a price that is expected to top out at over €50 million. The Red Devils had long had him as a leading target in their desire to strengthen between the posts this summer, CBS Sports’ revelation that Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr had made a lucrative offer to the Cameroonian prompted United to accelerate their pursuit and Onana is expected to be unveiled as Ten Hag’s new No.1 in the coming days.

United are certainly getting a man in a rich vein of form. In last season’s Champions League, Onana prevented 7.6 goals based on Opta’s post-shot expected…