Manchester United and Ineos will be pleased with their summer transfer business but one target has made an impressive start at a rival club.
Over the summer window, Manchester United spent £232m on five new signings to bolster Ruben Amorim’s squad.
The priority was to improve United’s attacking output, with three signings made to improve the front three. However, the window ended with United shopping for a new goalkeeper.
Eventually, United signed Senne Lammens for £18m, although the Belgian shot-stopper is yet to make his debut after starting on the bench against Manchester City and Chelsea.
Lammens has impressed teammates since arriving from Royal Antwerp, but United almost went in a very different direction.
Photo by Etsuo Hara/Getty ImagesMan United snubbed £26m deal for ‘animal’ signing
Before eventually choosing to sign Lammens, United were linked with Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The 26-year-old recently played a pivotal role in PSG’s Champions League win but was made available by the French giants this summer.
Donnarumma’s wages put United off a deal, and he ended up making a £26m move to cross-city rivals Manchester City.
In City’s recent 1-1 draw with Arsenal, United legend Gary Neville was full of praise for Gianluigi Donnarumma, hailing him as an “animal”.
“You look at Donnarumma, he’s an absolute animal,” Neville said on his Sky Sports podcast.
“He’s just big. When he comes for it, it makes oncoming attackers think about it, because they know they’re going to get a right bash in the head if he comes and hits you.”
Man United may live to regret Gianluigi Donnarumma snub
Paul Scholes wanted United to sign Donnarumma, and many fans will likely agree with the legendary midfielder.
In Lammens, United have opted to sign a project goalkeeper who might not be the ready-made product yet, but has extremely high potential.
Amorim has already been hesitant to throw the 22-year-old straight into the deep end against City and Chelsea.
It feels inevitable that Lammens will eventually be United’s No.1, but Amorim needs results now and there may be some regrets after watching Donnarumma’s impressive start for City.