Manchester United are looking to solve their goalkeeping issues as they look to sign Royal Antwerp shot-stopper Senne Lammens, but the Red Devils have been warned he might not be the solution
Manchester United have been cautioned that their potential next arrival Senne Lammens will need "a miracle" to succeed, as they balance several transfers before Monday's deadline. Royal Antwerp goalkeeper Lammens has been heavily touted for a switch to Old Trafford this summer in a move valued at £17million.
United's goalkeeping crisis has emerged as an escalating worry in recent weeks, forcing the club to contemplate entering the transfer market. Altay Bayindir has featured in both of United's initial Premier League fixtures ahead of Andre Onana.
The Turkey international faced criticism for his role in Arsenal's decisive goal on the opening weekend of the season. Despite retaining his position for Sunday's 1-1 draw with Fulham, he once again appeared shaky when handling crosses.
With Onana also frequently scrutinised for errors throughout his two years at United, the urgency for Ruben Amorim to secure a fresh keeper to compete for the No.1 shirt now seems more critical than ever. The Red Devils' prospects of acquiring Lammens are currently precariously balanced, according to the latest reports, despite seeing off competition from Galatasaray.
As per the Daily Mail, United are dependent on various other transfers materialising which could determine whether the 23-year-old arrives before the transfer window closes. United are still attempting to thrash out a deal with Chelsea for Alejandro Garnacho's switch to Stamford Bridge, whilst Jadon Sancho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia remain at the club despite being deemed surplus to requirements.
Even if the pursuit of Lammens proves fruitful, ex-United and Wrexham shot-stopper Ben Foster has expressed serious reservations about whether he possesses the quality to thrive in the Premier League.
Speaking on his Fozcast podcast, he said: "I actually watched a little highlight reel of him on YouTube, and he looks okay. I still don't think it's the answer, though.
"He looks like he's a decent young goalkeeper. But I just think to go and pluck somebody from Royal Antwerp and expect them to be able to be a world class goalkeeper in the Premier League, it's a miracle if you get it right."
Foster also delivered an assessment of Bayindir's recent performances between the sticks, claiming he gets intimidated too easily from set-pieces. He further stressed his belief that the former Fenerbahce star shouldn't be United's number one choice in the long run.
"I think we're in agreement that Bayindir isn't the answer," he said. "I thought he got very lucky on a couple occasions [at Fulham] where corners are coming into the box.
"I'm thinking that any time they get the chance to put the ball in the box, they're just going to stick it on top of Bayindir. They're just going to bully him out the way, and they're going to put the ball in the back of the net."
Meanwhile, the potential arrival of Lammens at Old Trafford is reportedly not expected to affect Onana's position in the squad. Despite the Cameroonian goalkeeper missing out on the first two matches, he is tipped to make his debut in Wednesday's Carabao Cup clash against Grimsby.