Manchester United's charge towards the Champions League could see Andre Onana land a pay rise despite being absent all year - and it could make it all the more challenging to offload him in the summer.

The Red Devils have been without the Cameroon goalkeeper for almost the entire season following his shock loan departure to Turkish side Trabzonspor. There was no obligation or option to make the move permanent, meaning he is set to return to Old Trafford in July.

Onana was signed by Erik ten Hag in 2023 but he was part of a squad-wide pay cut that occurred after United failed to reach Europe for the 2025-26 campaign. It meant the players got hit with a 25 per cent reduction, so as to offset the lack of European revenue.

But United sit third in the table and a return to the Champions League would see the players' salaries return to their original levels. The Sun reports that figures at United are concerned that the increase in salary will make it more challenging to get Onana off their books.

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The player himself though, who previously played in a Champions League final with Inter Milan, is determined to stay and fight for his place in Manchester.

United signed Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp for £18million in the summer when he was relatively unknown, but he's since established himself as their No 1. The Belgian has impressed and now commands the jersey.

A return for Onana could leave United having to carry a very expensive goalkeeper as their back-up. Should they want to send him out on loan again they may have to pay a portion of his salary just to get him off their books. They currently have the luxury of Trabzonspor paying his entire salary.

United's willingness to move Onana on for the year came after two error-strewn years, which eventually saw him dropped for a brief period by former boss Ruben Amorim. After replacing David de Gea, despite his ability to play out, it quickly became evident that he was not as good a shot stopper.

Amorim said on his exit: “Sometimes it’s hard to point where things went wrong. The performance, the moment, the bad luck in some moments was hard on him. I wish the best for Andre. He was really hard working and good at helping the players. But sometimes you need to change the environment.”

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