Three goalkeepers who could solve Manchester United's issues

Manchester United's opening game of the 2025-26 Premier League season ended in a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Arsenal. Altay Bayindir's mistake on a 13th-minute corner allowed Riccardo Calafiori to nod home the only goal of the game.

United has struggled between the sticks for the past 18 months, with Andre Onana also making some high-profile mistakes last season. 

"It’s really unsettling when you don’t have a really dominant No. 1. You need someone to own their six-yard box, to make a lot of saves, to come and punch everything, and save you points when your defenders make mistakes," United legend Wayne Rooney said, via his "The Wayne Rooney Show" podcast.

United is lacking a quality keeper who fits into Ruben Amorim's vision. As such, the club may need to dip back into the transfer market. However, after spending over $270 million this summer, it may have limited funds. Nevertheless, here are three keepers who could solve the club's current crisis. 

Gianluigi Donnarumma

Lucas Chevalier's arrival in Paris has all but ended Donnarumma's tenure at the Parc des Princes. The Italian goalkeeper, who is viewed as one of the best in the world, hasn't been registered as part of PSG's squad for the upcoming season.

Both United and Manchester City have been linked with a move for the Champions League-winning shot-stopper in recent weeks. According to Sky Sports Italia, Paris Saint-Germain is looking for a fee between $23.3 million and $35 million to make the deal happen. Donnarumma would likely command a significant salary, too. Still, if United is set on adding a world-class keeper between the sticks, Donnarumma would be the ideal option.

Emiliano Martinez 

The Aston Villa keeper is a World Cup winner with legitimate Premier League experience. He would instantly provide some security to the backline while commanding the respect of strikers around the league. The problem is, Villa doesn't want to sell its current No. 1 and would likely drive a hard bargain.

There's a chance Martinez could wind up costing more than Donnarumma, which, considering the significant age gap (Donnarumma is six years younger than Martinez), would be a problem. Nevertheless, United would be wise to check on Martinez's availability once more, as Villa may be willing to cash in on its star keeper due to its cash issues. 

Bart Verbruggen

Verbruggen isn't a name that has been regularly linked with United, but has certainly been mentioned at times. However, his Premier League experience and the fact that he's just 23 years old could be enticing for the Red Devils. Verbruggen would fit the current rebuild at the club and is already talented enough to be seen as an upgrade over Onana and Bayindir. 

Of course, the problem would be convincing Brighton, which notoriously drives a hard bargain, to sell the young keeper. However, the draw of being part of Amorim's United and the project the team is undertaking could be too much of a draw. It's a move the club should at least consider exploring.