Manchester United fans will be pleased to learn of progress in a position that has proved problematic over the past three seasons. Senne Lammens is a highly-rated goalkeeping prospect, but one that will not break the bank.
United looked better than Arsenal for long stretches of their Premier League opener, last weekend, but were beaten 1-0 at Old Trafford. The Gunners scored from their first corner-kick of the game, with Altay Bayindir flapping at an inswinging corner, allowing Riccardo Calafiori to nod in, at the back-post.
Bayindir is 6-foot-6 but somehow lacks the physicality to mix it on set-pieces and, not for the first time, was caught out for a set-piece. The Turkish international played in all of United’s pre-season games and retained the No.1 spot for the league opener, despite Andre Onana being fit to play.
Following the game, Ruben Amorim launched into a passionate defence of Bayindir, and of his decision to start the 27-year-old. “If you watch the ball,” said Amorim, “[the opponent] is allowed to do a lot of things at the corners. We need to do the same.
“But when you touch that way, the goalkeeper needs to [be able to] use his hands to catch the ball, not push players [out of his way]. He chooses to push players and let the ball pass. But again, it’s the rules. If it’s allowed, we need to do the same thing.”
United have already spent over £210 million in this summer’s transfer market, bringing in three attacking players and young defender Diego Leon. They may not have the funds to splash on an established goalkeeper, but look to be keen on freshening up their shot-stopping options.
It has been reported the 20-time league champions are ‘in active talks’ with a Belgium U21 international, who was called into his country’s senior squad, back in March, for the first time.
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Senne Lammens would provide stiff competition to Andre Onana
Manchester United have been linked with Emi Martinez (Aston Villa & Argentina) and Gianluigi Donnarum (PSG & Italy) already, this summer, but do not appear to have the available funds to make a big splash for a goalkeeper.
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Instead, their scouting department has identified Antwerp goalkeeper Senne Lammens are a cheaper option, but one with a potentially high ceiling.
Lammens turned 23, last month, and has 80 senior games under his belt. 40 of those came last season as Antwerp came fifth in the Belgian Pro League. He has nine caps for Belgium’s Under-21 squad.
Back in March, he was called up – along with goalkeepers Thibaut Courtois, Matz Sels and Maarten Vandevoordt – for Belgium’s Nations League playoff games against Ukraine. Lammens has already played three times for Antwerp, this season, but could soon be on his way to United as personal terms are ‘almost agreed’.
🚨 Understand Manchester United are still working on deal to sign Senne Lammens, talks underway.
Personal terms are almost agreed and Man United are in active talks for the Belgian goalkeeper.#MUFC try to anticipate more clubs from France and Italy, also based on exits. pic.twitter.com/74HHSAGXd8
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 22, 2025
Established option United should consider
Senne Lammens is valued at between £9m and £10m by some of the leading transfer and player valuation sites, but Antwerp would expect to extract a bigger fee from Manchester United. It is believed a permanent transfer could cost United £17m (€20m).
United sources have let it be known that addressing the club’s lack of goal-scoring, from last season, was their big summer priority. They may yet bring in another defensive midfielder but that may depend on outgoings. Lammens would come in as competition for Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir, with United possibly offloading one of that pair.
Donnaruma is an enticing, world-class option but his transfer fee and wage expectations (he is on €240,000 per week, at Paris Saint Germain) may be too much for United to bear.
One option that United should consider is bidding for Manchester City’s Ederson. The Brazilian is a proven Premier League campaigner, has excellent distribution skills and would come at half the salary of someone like Donnaruma.
City may prefer Ederson – if he does leave – to move abroad, but it would certainly be worth United reaching out to his agent to explore the possibility of a move.
The last goalkeeper to play for City and United was Peter Schmeichel, with Tony Coton being the last ‘keeper to move from City to United.
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