Wayne Rooney has urged Manchester United to sign two players before the transfer window closes and says Ruben Amorim would be ‘crazy’ not to pursue Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The Red Devils have spent just under £200m so far this summer, bolstering Amorim’s squad with the additions of Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.
While they were beaten 1-0, there were signs of improvement in United’s opening-day performance against Arsenal, in which the visitors benefitted from a mistake from back-up goalkeeper Altay Bayindir.
Andre Onana was Amorim’s No. 1 last season and the United boss confirmed his absence against Arsenal was a tactical decision rather than enforced by an injury.
Despite appearing to have reservations about Onana and watching Bayindir let the team down, Amorim insisted he was happy with his goalkeeping options and suggested United would not be entering the transfer market for a new shot-stopper.
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But club legend Rooney believes the goalkeeping situation at Old Trafford is an ‘issue’ and says it would be ‘crazy’ for Manchester United not to pursue a deal for Donnarumma.
The Champions League and European Championship winner is searching for a new club after being banished by PSG boss Luis Enrique despite his incredible form last season.
Donnarumma is open to a move to the Premier League but United have indicated they are not in the race to secure his signature.
‘There’s the goalkeeper situation and I’m sure every Man United fan is asking the same question,’ Rooney said on his BBC podcast.
‘For me, Donnarumma is out there and if there’s a possibility you can get him, you have to go for him. Clearly that [the goalkeeper] is an issue.
‘I go back to when we had Roy Carroll and Tim Howard in goal. I don’t think there was 100 per cent trust from the defenders in front of those two goalkeepers.
‘But the minute [Edwin] Van der Sar came in and calmed everything down, the defenders trusted him a lot more and you see a better output of performance.
‘These United players want that confidence and trust in the goal behind them and I just don’t see that with the ones we’ve got at the moment.
‘With Donnarumma, he’s 26 and one of the best keepers in the world. It would be crazy if Manchester United didn’t go for him.
‘If the deal can be done and what Donnarumma wants [in terms of a salary] is another question but I’d certainly be asking the question and try to get him to the club.
‘Andre Onana is a fantastic keeper, I watched him at Inter [Milan] and he was brilliant.
‘So you hope if they don’t sign a new goalkeeper he can get back to that level of form, but he certainly didn’t fill us with confidence last season.’
While Manchester United are not currently planning to sign a new goalkeeper, they have shown interest in bringing a new midfielder to Old Trafford.
Brighton’s Carlos Baleba is a top target and United have also been linked with Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, though neither will come cheap.
Asked if he would be ‘crying out’ for a new midfielder if he was Amorim, Rooney said: ‘You would be, yeah, but obviously we don’t know what the situation is with PSR.
‘But to get a midfielder and a goalkeeper is a priority, if they can address that before the window closes they will be in an okay place.’
Rooney also insisted he took ‘many positives’ from Manchester United’s defeat to Arsenal and felt it was a sign the team are ‘on the right track’ under Amorim.
Amorim’s job will be under threat if United do not show significant improvement this season after they finished just 15th in the Premier League last season.
‘I think there were so many positives for Manchester United throughout the game,’ former captain Rooney added. ‘The players will be disappointed to lose but for the fans there were positives to take.
‘It’s not going to completely change in one transfer window, it’s going to take a bit more time, but it looks like they’re on the right track now.’
Amorim’s side return to Premier League action on Sunday with a trip to Craven Cottage to face Fulham.
Rodrigo Muniz scored an injury-time equaliser as Fulham drew 1-1 with Brighton in their opening game.
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