Gary Neville has revealed Manchester United’s plan for incoming signing Senne Lammens and predicted his arrival will spell the end for Andre Onana’s Old Trafford career.
United are working on a deal for Royal Antwerp goalkeeper Lammens despite Ruben Amorim’s public backing of Onana and Altay Bayindir.
Manchester City are also admirers of Lammens but the Belgian looks set to join the Red Devils having already agreed personal terms over a move.
Neville asked his contacts at Manchester United about the plan for Lammens, who is expected to cost around £20m, and believes he is being signed as a No. 2.
However, Neville still believes the transfer could mark the beginning of the end for Onana at United given he is now fully aware the club have reservations about his own place in the squad.
Your ultimate guide to the football season
Metro’s weekly football newsletter: In The Mixer. Exclusive analysis, FPL tips and transfer talk sent straight to your inbox every Friday – sign up, it’s an open goal.
Onana made a number of high-profile mistakes last season and Neville, speaking last week after United’s Premier League opener against Arsenal, insisted the goalkeeper situation was a ‘glaring issue’ for his former club.
Asked about Manchester United’s pursuit of Lammens ahead of their clash against Fulham on Sunday, Neville told NBC Sports: ‘I’ve been asking around about that one this morning and spoke to a few people at United.
‘The feeling is the new boy coming in would probably be a No. 2 who would start on the bench, but they absolutely do need a No. 1.
‘The main priority for United is still goals and we think Cunha, Mbeumo and Sesko are going to do that. We think Onana will start today but that situation isn’t right.
‘Bayindir came in last week but he makes a lot of mistakes. Now that Onana knows United have been scouting around Europe for a new goalkeeper and replacement for him, his confidence must be shot at and he must be thinking he wants to get out.
‘They have to deal with that. That and the central midfielder slot next to Bruno [Fernandes] are the two things they need to get sorted this week [before the transfer deadline].’
Asked who he would start against Fulham on Sunday afternoon, Neville added: ‘I would go with Onana, he’s the most reliable out of the unreliable goalkeepers they have.
‘I think Bayindir is young, Onana for me is the better goalkeeper, although he makes mistakes as well and he’s not ideal.
‘But I think he’s got a bigger personality and character than Bayindir and he’s got that experience, so I think Onana should start.’
Manchester United are already trying to sell Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho and Antony before the summer transfer window closes.
More to follow…
