Manchester United have accepted a season-long loan proposal from Trabzonspor for goalkeeper André Onana, with the move subject to the player’s approval, according to The Athletic.

United’s decision follows changes in their goalkeeping hierarchy. Altay Bayındır has been the preferred starter but faces a potential demotion after the summer signing of Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp. With Onana possibly slipping to third choice under Amorim, the club have agreed to the Turkish side’s loan approach.

The terms agreed between the clubs are straightforward. United will send Onana to Türkiye without a loan fee, and Trabzonspor would not have any purchase clause to make the move permanent next summer. The Red Devils are understood to be seeking relief of Onana’s salary, while a season-long loan would allow the goalkeeper to retain as much of his transfer value as possible ahead of a potential departure in the summer of 2026.

Onana, 29, is reported to be open to the transfer and is awaiting discussions on the exact terms. Privately, he is believed to have backed himself to reclaim United’s starting spot even after the arrival of Lammens, but an awareness of the competition he faces has seen the Cameroon international “give serious thought” to joining Trabzonspor.

The timing is important. The Turkish transfer window remains open until September 12, yet Trabzonspor want to conclude the deal promptly so they can nominate Onana in their starting lineup for the fixture scheduled two days after the window closes. United’s acceptance of the bid leaves the final decision in the hands of the goalkeeper and his representatives.

Michael Owen has publicly rejected a social media comparison between himself and Wayne Rooney, posting a detailed numerical response on X. The former striker defended his early career record and challenged any suggestion that Rooney was the superior youngster.

Owen set out specific figures in the comment thread, writing: “At 17, I scored 18 PL goals (winning the Golden Boot), Wazza scored six. At 18, I again scored 18 goals (again winning the Golden Boot and coming fourth in the Ballon d’Or), Wazza scored nine,” Owen replied on X. “In our opening seven seasons, Wazza didn’t outscore me once (117 goals vs. 80). In which time I became the second youngest Ballon d’Or winner ever.

At 17 I scored 18 PL goals (winning the Golden Boot), Wazza scored 6. At 18 I again scored 18 goals (again winning the Golden Boot and coming 4th in The Ballon d’Or), Wazza scored 9. In our opening 7 seasons, Wazza didn’t outscore me once (117 goals v 80). In which time I became…

“Injuries hindered me from then on while he sustained his level. Therefore, he’ll go down as a better player than me. But, at 17, please……”

The exchange underlines two clear threads from the draft: Owen emphasised his precocious goalscoring output, and he acknowledged that injuries limited his later career while Rooney maintained consistency. The draft notes Owen remains the last English player to win the Ballon d’Or, having scooped the prize in 2001. It also contrasts career Premier League totals: Owen finished with 150 strikes in 326 matches, while Rooney produced 208 goals but required 491 games to reach that number.

The debate revolves around raw early numbers and subsequent career trajectories. Owen used the platform to assert the superiority of his teenage output, while the broader picture includes Rooney’s greater longevity and a playing style described in the draft as likely to resonate with a larger percentage of English supporters.

Louis Saha has warned that Benjamin Šeško may encounter early difficulties at Manchester United if the team cannot provide the midfield connection the striker needs. The Slovenia international arrives after scoring 39 goals across two seasons with Leipzig and has been tipped for superstardom from a tender age.

Saha, who played 124 times for United, made his assessment on the The Athletic FC Podcast. He highlighted the club’s shortage in midfield as the main obstacle to Šeško settling quickly. “I think he’s capable if the manager managed to get that link between midfield and striker,” said the Frenchman, who played 124 times for United , on the The Athletic FC Podcast . “Unfortunately, we didn’t get the midfielder we wanted. So we’re still very weak in that department. And this is why I think Sesko will struggle maybe a little bit until we get that sorted.

“He’s got the quality because he’s tall, he’s going to score goals in the air, and he’s very technical as well. All his movement is is right up there, so I’m very confident he’s going to get chances and he’s going to score.

“But to get us where we want, I don’t think that’s going to be on him. Those two playmakers, [Matheus] Cunha and [Bryan] Mbeumo, will have to kick on very soon, [otherwise] you will see Sesko struggling as well.”

United have appeared livelier in the final third with Cunha and Mbeumo occupying attacking midfield roles, but the club’s inability to recruit a central midfielder remains a concern. Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba was the primary target in that area but proved unaffordable. The balance between a striker of Šeško’s profile and the midfield supply will be a defining issue for his debut season at Old Trafford.