Ruben Amorim has suggested Manchester United could still sign a new goalkeeper with the club reportedly close to agreeing personal terms with Antwerp star Senne Lammens.
United’s goalkeeping woes have followed them into the new season with Andre Onana left out of the squad for last weekend’s opener against Arsenal. Altay Bayindir was named in the starting XI and was at fault after just 13 minutes as the Gunners scored the only goal of the game.
Ruben Amorim has stated he is happy with his three goalkeepers with 39-year-old Tom Heaton also still in the picture.
But behind the scenes, United appear to be making moves with Fabrizio Romano reporting the club are working on a deal to sign Lammens.
Talks are ongoing with a deal with the player almost done.
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Lammens has been on United’s radar throughout the summer with reports in Belgium suggesting Antwerp are hoping to receive a bid in the region of €15-20million (£13-17.3m).
United could face a fight to land the 23-year-old however with Manchester City also said to be exploring a move.
While there has been the suggestion United may have to sell before they can buy again this summer, Amorim has suggested that is not necessarily the case.
‘It’s not an idea that these guys are going to leave, to play in a different club, and then we’ll receive another player,’ Amorim said in his pre-match press conference on Friday.
‘We don’t know what is going to happen, but we’re not waiting to take out someone to get another.’
United have spent close to £200million rebuilding their attack this summer in signing Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha.
But former club captain Gary Neville is adamant any improvement further up the pitch will be undermined by problems in goal.
‘There’s a glaring issue for Manchester United that can’t be ignored and that is that they do need to find a goalkeeper,’ Neville said on his Sky Sports podcast. ‘They have to.
‘I’m absolutely unequivocal on that. I had an experience at United for 20 years where we had big spells with [Peter] Schmeichel and [Edwin] van der Saw and in-between we had seven or eight other goalkeepers.
‘It’s really unsettling when you don’t have a really dominant No. 1. You need someone to own their six-yard box, to make a lot of saves, to come and punch everything and save you points when your defenders make mistakes.’
The stunning stats behind Man Utd target Lammens
Lammens has risen to prominence in Belgium’s Jupiler Pro League where he recorded a save percentage of 81.4 per cent – more than any other Premier League shot stopper.
He has also shown to be a commanding presence in the air dealing with crosses – an area where United were exposed against Arsenal. Lammens stopped 44 crosses season, more than Alisson Becker, Jordan Pickford and Dean Henderson among others.
The Belgian is also developing his own fearsome reputation in saving penalties, stopping five spot kicks since the start of last season – more than any other goalkeeper in Europe’s top 10 leagues during that period.
