RUBEN AMORIM is hoping Senne Lammens will become Manchester United’s answer to Thibaut Courtois.
And that goal was made more realistic by the fact that his young keeper already receives regular pep talks from the Real Madrid veteran.
United boss Amorim has mentored Lammens with an almost paternal care since his £18.2million deadline day arrival.
And he sees the 23-year-old Belgian as a future pillar of the United defence.
Club sources say the Portuguese manager views Lammens as Courtois 2.0 with his blend of aerial skill, power and strong ball-playing ability.
Altay Bayindir was United’s first-choice keeper for the opening six Prem games — but Amorim opted for a shake-up and handed Lammens his debut against Sunderland on Saturday.
The gamble paid off, the stopper looking composed as Mason Mount and Benjamin Sesko’s goals secured a 2-0 win.
Lammens received a rousing standing ovation from the home crowd after claiming two high crosses and making three confident saves.
He was also bombarded with hugs from his team-mates at the full-time whistle.
And the Stretford End even serenaded him with chants of “Are you Peter Schmeichel in disguise?”.
While that might seem over the top, United have been seriously lacking a commanding presence between the sticks since Andre Onana’s arrival in 2023.
Bayindir had conceded 11 goals and had one of the poorest save percentages of any Prem keeper this season — so Lammens’ introduction felt inevitable.
With leadership voices lacking in recent years, Amorim was particularly impressed with how vocal Lammens was on the pitch.
And he confirmed that Lammens and fellow Belgian Courtois have a real connection and speak often.
The former Prem title-winner with Chelsea, 33, advised his compatriot on how best to adapt to the challenges of the Prem — and the immense pressure that comes with joining a club like United.
They were called up to their first international camp together in March.
And after the Sunderland game at the weekend, Courtois commented on United’s official socials with a praising-hands emoji.
Having missed the September internationals due to his Manchester move, Lammens was recalled for Belgium’s latest World Cup qualifiers, joining Courtois and Nottingham Forest star Matz Sels.
Despite playing down talks of a new arrival between the sticks in the summer, Amorim pushed hard for Lammens’ signature — with Onana joining Trabzonspor on loan a few days after his arrival.
United officials have been blown away by Lammens and believe they made the right call in pursuing the promising talent rather than a more seasoned option such as Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez.
The new recruit has received nothing but praise from club figures. He has integrated well into the dressing room, speaks up during training and is often the first to arrive and last to leave the training pitch.
After Lammens’ dream debut, Amorim said: “Senne did a great job, gave us confidence. It was a good day, not a perfect day. But to win like this — with a clean sheet — is important for our team.”
There is a feeling of relief that the keeper situation could finally be solved now that he has settled.
The repeated issues with Onana and later Bayindir were not easy to manage but now Amorim feels that problem is behind them.
He knows he has discovered a diamond, according to insiders, who say the boss expects Lammens to become the world’s best keeper within the next three years.
Read the full article here