Two former Manchester United team-mates are at odds over whether Andre Onana should remain as the club's first-choice goalkeeper for the foreseeable future.

Edwin van der Sar and Ben Foster both know the pressures associated with playing between the sticks at Old Trafford. Onana's performance in goal has split opinions since he joined United from Inter Milan for an initial fee of £43.8m in July 2023 after receiving criticism for his inconsistency.

However, Van der Sar recently gave the 28-year-old his backing and suggested his abilities will improve over time. Speaking while attending bet365’s Never Ordinary Watchalong in London, the Dutchman said: "I think that it's quite early but Andre has a fantastic career in front of him. He's gaining more experience.

READ MORE: Ruben Amorim might be about to try something new at Manchester United - two players won't like it

READ MORE: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer transfer U-turn could help Manchester United complete late deal

"He has all the qualities that a goalkeeper needs so I'm sure for the next five to six years he will keep improving. He has the right attitude to be the goalkeeper for Man United for a very long time."

The endorsement of Van der Sar will be music to Onana's ears after he was initially signed by United to be their ball-playing keeper, in keeping with the wider trend in top level football. This often requires them to be good with their feet to relieve pressure on defences and launch attacks.

However, Foster, who played for United for five years between July 2005 and May 2010, has questioned Onana's long-term credentials. Commenting on the current standard of keepers in the Premier League on his Fozcast podcast, the former Wrexham star said: "If you think about the top goalkeepers, they are trailblazing for how to be proper good goalkeepers such as Alisson, Ederson, [Emi] Martinez and [David] Raya, but there is a drop-off.

"Chelsea haven't really got a recognised number one goalkeeper, and with Man United and Onana, I don't know if he's going to be the long-term answer. The big boys, who have got the goalie sorted, they're flourishing from it, but playing out from the back is the big problem."

Foster was speaking in response to criticism over the quality of elite-level keepers made by Jamie Carragher. The ex-Liverpool defender's remarks were made following Brentford's own-goal against Tottenham on Sunday after Bees goalkeeper Hakon Valdimarsson failed to take control in the box.

Carragher said on Sky Sports: "I actually think the level of goalkeeping in the Premier League right now is as bad as it's been. I see so many goals go in. We are in an era last two-three years where there's been more goals scored than ever before. I feel the level of goalkeeping is a big part of that."

Foster agreed with Carragher after challenging the expectation that goalkeepers should be as skilled with their feet as they are with their hands. He also referenced Manchester City's 5-1 defeat away at Arsenal on Sunday as an example of how passing out from the back can cause problems.

He said: "The main focus for a goalie now is how good they are with the ball at their feet and how many nice little passes they can play. But no matter how good a goalkeeper is with the ball at his feet, the other 20 people on that pitch are much better than you.

"They're outfield players and they are used to having a ball at their feet all the time. Goalies aren't and we're not that good with the ball. If you look at the Man City game at the weekend, it's a perfect example of how playing out from the back can get you into trouble and put you on the back foot from the get go."