Manchester United’s new goalkeeper Senne Lammens was watched by Premier League rivals – only for clubs to resist the move due to doubts about his suitability for English football.
Lammens has moved to Old Trafford from Royal Antwerp in a deal worth up to £21.7million, as United rejected the chance to bring in Emi Martinez from Aston Villa.
United overlooked Martinez’s pedigree and Premier League experience to sign the 23-year-old, though Mail Sport can reveal Lammens did not convince other top-flight clubs when they assessed him.
On Tuesday, a report in Lammens’ native Belgium named Sunderland and Leeds United as two teams who ‘enquired – but quickly dropped out when they heard the hefty asking price’.
The Premier League poses a range of tests for goalkeepers – athletic, mental, physical, technical – that exceed those of most other leagues and though scouts could see Lammens’ potential, they felt it would be a risk to pitch him straight into a first-choice role in England.
It remains to be seen, of course, whether Lammens will go into the United first XI immediately.
Senne Lammens completed his move to Old Trafford on Deadline Day in a deal worth £21.7million
It’s however thought that Sunderland and Leeds United turned down the opportunity to sign him earlier in the window
United had made a late move for Aston Villa’s Emi Martinez, but ultimately settled on the Belgian
The groundwork for a move for Lammens had been laid for some time and the final touches were sealed on Monday as he boarded a private plane from Antwerp to Manchester.
He becomes the most expensive goalkeeper sale in the history of the Belgian Pro League.
There is currently no sign of Andre Onana or Altay Bayindir leaving United Manchester United, though it is worth noting that the transfer windows in Turkey and Saudi Arabia stay open until mid-September.
Both goalkeepers’ struggles have been obvious so far this season after the Turkish international replaced Onana as Amorim’s No 1 following pre-season.
Bayindir was at fault for Arsenal’s winner on the opening day of the season, looked shaky at Craven Cottage on matchday two and, on Saturday, failed to command his box as Burnley equalised at Old Trafford.
Meanwhile Onana, who looks all but finished under Amorim, had arguably his worst performance in a United shirt in the disaster at Grimsby. The former Inter Milan ‘keeper failed to keep out the host’s first goal at his near post before flapping under a cross for the second, and only managed to pull off a solitary save in the penalty shootout.
The United boss has however refused to blame either goalkeeper for his side’s poor form, telling reporters after the Burnley game: ‘They are humans. At Manchester United everything is the news.
‘Everybody talks about the goalkeeper and you can see even when I change the goalkeeper these situations happen. We are in that moment. It’s hard to be a Manchester United goalkeeper in this moment.
Altay Bayindir and Andre Onana’s struggles this season have been plain to see
Ruben Amorim has however refused to blame the duo for his side’s poor form this season
‘If you look at the goal, we can defend better the box. We suffered a similar goal against Fulham because we don’t do the full rotation of the team when the ball is on the other side.
‘These things don’t have anything to do with the goalkeeper. All these small things have nothing to do with the goalkeeper. Players are struggling a little bit with all the things that are happening around the club, that is normal. It’s not just the goalkeepers; everybody has to improve.’
Lammens’ additions mean United could carry four senior keepers in their squad for the rest of the season, with veteran Tom Heaton completing the quartet.
They’re back in action after the international break with a trip to Manchester City, now boasting Gianluigi Donnarumma in goals, for the derby.
