Manchester United Loan Watch: Onana, Hojlund, Vitek, Ennis and the rest assessed

Manchester United have scattered a 15-man loan armada across Europe this season, and with the campaign entering its final straits the picture of who might return to bolster Old Trafford – and who is likely to move on – is becoming clearer.

Andre Onana, the most expensive of the temporary exiles, has divided opinion in Turkey. Trabzonspor’s No 1 has kept only one clean sheet in his last 14 Super Lig outings, yet the club hierarchy remain effusive about the 29-year-old Cameroon keeper who has already clocked up 21 appearances since September. Vice-president Zeyyat Kafkas confirmed United slapped a €45-50 million price tag on any permanent deal, a figure the Black Sea club consider prohibitive. Onana, currently third in the table, is focused on dragging Trabzonspor into Europe, but unless the fee drops he is expected back at Carrington.

In the Championship, United have two contrasting goalkeeping stories. Radek Vitek has been a revelation at Bristol City, usurping veteran Max O’Leary and earning the nickname “The Wall” after a viral save against Ipswich in January. Nine clean sheets in 31 games have put the 21-year-old Czech in contention to challenge for the senior gloves next term, even if the Robins’ play-off push has stalled.

At the other end of the table, 18-year-old defensive prospect Harry Amass impressed during a first half-season at Sheffield Wednesday before switching to Norwich in January. A serious hamstring injury in training has limited him to a single Canaries outing, and he now faces a race to be fit before United’s new manager weighs up his future.

Midfield fortunes have been mixed. Toby Collyer’s hopes of regular football were derailed by calf and hamstring problems at West Brom and then Hull, though he is now back in training with the Tigers. Dan Gore has at least found rhythm at League One Rotherham, starting 24 games and rehabilitating a previously injury-hit reputation, but with his contract expiring in May a permanent exit looks probable.

Teenager Habeeb Ogunneye has shown flashes for Fleetwood – six goals, five assists and a spectacular FA Cup strike against Luton – yet the 21-year-old is out of contract in June and attracting admirers. Fellow forward Victor Musa has managed only 53 minutes for struggling Shrewsbury, while 19-year-old Ethan Wheatley is still searching for his first goal at promotion-chasing Bradford after three starts.

In Europe, Hannibal Mejbri has started only seven of 18 Premier League games for Aston Villa, contributing one goal and one assist, and looks set to depart when his deal expires. In Switzerland, Sekou Kone has made five cameo appearances for Lausanne-Sport after a serious head injury curtailed his early season; the 20-year-old Malian is still awaiting a first Europa Conference League squad place.

The headline loans lie at the sharp end of the pitch. Rasmus Hojlund has nine Serie A goals for Napoli, matching his 2022-23 Atalanta tally, and 13 in all competitions. The Partenopei are five points clear in the final Champions League berth; trigger the £38 million obligation and the Denmark striker will depart United permanently.

Marcus Rashford, meanwhile, has 10 goals and 10 assists in 38 games for Barcelona, who hold a £26 million option. Barça want him, he wants to stay, and United are unwilling to renegotiate the figure.

Finally, 19-year-old French winger Elyh Dilo has one goal and one assist in 23 combined appearances for Lausanne, while 18-year-old Irish midfielder Jack Devaney has tailed off after a bright start at St Johnstone, dropping to the bench as the Perth club fight relegation.

As the season nears its climax, United’s loan cohort offers both promise and pragmatism: some will return as genuine first-team contenders, others have already played their last game for the club.