Andre Onana will be available for Manchester United’s FA Cup third-round match against Wigan Athletic, according to manager Erik ten Hag on Thursday. Talks have been held to delay his departure for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Manchester United will face Wigan on Monday, and Cameroon has a friendly scheduled for Tuesday against Zambia before the tournament begins on Jan. 15.
Ten Hag told reporters, “We’re talking with the Cameroon federation, it was an issue during the talks with Andre when he came in here (in July from Inter Milan). It’s constructive.”
United, currently eighth in the Premier League, will host Tottenham Hotspur on Jan. 14, but it is uncertain whether Onana will be available for that match. However, he will be present for the game against Wigan, said Ten Hag.
Manchester United had a roller-coaster festive period, defeating Aston Villa 3-2 with a stunning comeback before suffering a meek 2-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest. This put pressure on Ten Hag following the takeover by Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS group. Ten Hag had a long meeting with Ratcliffe for the first time, which he described as very constructive and positive from both sides. He also mentioned that it is too early to expect much change to the team under the new ownership.
Ten Hag said, “We had a long meeting, so many hours we sit together, on many issues we were on the same page, very positive from both sides,” the manager said….”
“I don’t know yet (if Onana will be available for Spurs) but he will be here for the game against Wigan,” Ten Hag said.
They have triggered contract extensions for Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof, and Hannibal Mejbri and are also in talks with Raphael Varane and Anthony Martial. However, there is no news on Jadon Sancho’s potential loan move to his former club, Borussia Dortmund. Sancho has not played for United since late August when he complained about his treatment on social media after Ten Hag criticized his performances in training.
United, eliminated from Europe and the League Cup, have won the FA cup 12 times, most recently in 2016.
(Reporting by Lori Ewing, editing by Ed Osmond)
