MANCHESTER UNITED are reportedly in talks to sign young Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens from Antwerp.
Manager Ruben Amorim has been eyeing a replacement for Andre Onana even before the Cameroonian stopper suffered an hamstring injury in pre-season.
Onana has been ruled out of the tour of the USA and potentially the opening stages of the 2025/26 Premier League season – which begins against Arsenal on August 17.
And the Red Devils are allegedly in talks with Antwerp about a £17million deal for Lammens, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.
United were first linked with Lammens, 23, in January, with scouts reportedly sent to watch him play.
Widely considered as one of the best up-and-coming goalkeepers in Europe, Lammens enjoyed a breakthrough first year as Antwerp’s No.1 last term.
Lammens ended the season with an eye-catching 173 saves, which works out to 4.3 saves per match and a solid 78 per cent save rate.
He made 41 appearances and kept 10 clean sheets in that period and is contracted until 2027.
The Belgian Under-21 international arrived from Club Brugge in 2023 and has also attracted interest from newly-promoted sides Leeds and Sunderland.
Antwerp have already signed another goalkeeper, Taishi Brandon Nozawa, strongly suggesting that they are preparing for life without Lammens.
He even once scored for Club Brugge against Real Madrid in a Uefa Youth League group stage match in the 2019/20 season.
A header from a corner, it sealed a 2-2 draw and sent his side into the knockout round play-offs.
Amorim needs to overhaul his goalkeeping department amidst uncertainty over the futures of Onana and equally sloppy No.2 Altay Bayindir.
After the chaos of last season, things were meant to be better from the off for Amorim, but United seemingly struggled to reset their squad in the summer window.
But the 40-year-old gaffer’s fortunes are set to change after the club finally agreed a £65million deal with Brentford for winger Bryan Mbeumo.
Mbeumo, and potentially Lammens, will link up with fellow new signings Matheus Cunha and full-back Diego Leon.
United take on local rivals Leeds at the Friends Arena in Sweden on Saturday at 2pm.
The five-player “Bomb Squad” of Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho, Antony and Tyrrell Malacia remain isolated from the tour.
Read the full article here