Manchester United signed goalkeeper Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp on transfer deadline day, but Ruben Amorim has been warned it will not solve his problems at the back
Ruben Amorim, manager of Manchester United, reacts
Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has been warned that starting Senne Lammens would be a mistake
(Image: Getty Images)
Ruben Amorim has been criticised for taking a gamble it's been claimed no other Premier League boss would dare make in bringing in Senne Lammens.
The Belgian shot-stopper arrived at Manchester United on transfer deadline day following an £18.2million switch from Royal Antwerp. Andre Onana is now poised to depart on a season-long loan to Turkish outfit Trabzonspor after a string of costly errors.
It's uncertain whether Lammens will immediately become United's first-choice goalkeeper, with Altay Bayindir having started the campaign as Amorim's preferred option between the posts. However, he has also faced criticism, most notably for his part in Riccardo Calafiori's goal during United's Premier League curtain-raiser as they lost 1-0 to Arsenal.
Despite the club's ongoing goalkeeping troubles, ex-United and Wrexham keeper Ben Foster has cautioned that Amorim would be making a perilous choice if he relies on 23-year-old Lammens to feature regularly in England's top division.
"Manchester United have got a kid from the Belgian league, who's never played for the Belgian first team," Foster said on his Fozcast podcast.
"He's played about 60 first-team games in his career and they're expecting this guy to be able to adapt to not only the Premier League, but adapt to Manchester United as well. It just reeks of sticking a band aid (plaster) on it.
Senne Lammens poses for a picture
Senne Lammens signed for Manchester United on transfer deadline day
"I wouldn't expect any Premier League team to sign a goalkeeper from the Belgian league who's never played for the national team, not even a newly promoted team, and not as a starter. It's such a risk."
Lammens conceded just 32 goals in 30 outings in Belgium's top division for Royal Antwerp last season, keeping seven clean sheets during the campaign. He also claimed the league's player of the month accolade on two occasions, making 173 saves throughout the season, and is confident he can provide solidity to United's porous backline.
"I think if you want to be a good goalkeeper, you have to be a rock behind the defence," said Lammens. "They have to trust you and count on you in difficult moments. That is something I take pride in. Of course, I can improve in this because the next level is bigger, but it is one of my attributes that I am proud of and I try to improve.
"My parents are also really calm and collected, but [I also developed this mentality] from growing up, when I was in the youth team and I thought about the goalkeeper I wanted to become later in life.
"I think one of the best attributes you can have as a goalkeeper is staying calm under pressure, in any circumstances, even if you make a mistake or something. You just move on and try to give your best to the team."
Meanwhile, Thibaut Courtois believes United have acquired a "huge talent" in Lammens. The Real Madrid and Belgium star expressed his views on the transfer to Rio Ferdinand, who then shared the goalkeeper's opinion of his compatriot on his YouTube channel.
Ferdinand said: "He let me know about Lammens because he's a Belgian player, and he was just giving me the heads up as to what he's like.
"He said he's a huge talent, obviously not experienced yet but he thinks his style will be well-suited to the Premier League as well. That's a recommendation from probably one of the best three goalkeepers in the world, Thibaut Courtois, so I'll take that."
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