Manchester United have not ruled out signing a new goalkeeper before the summer transfer window ends, and Senne Lammens now seems set to join before deadline day
Senne Lammens playing for Royal Antwerp
Senne Lammens will reportedly not play for Royal Antwerp this weekend
(Image: Getty Images)
Senne Lammens has been left out of Royal Antwerp's squad this weekend as Manchester United are said to be closing in on signing the Belgium international.
United have not ruled out signing a new goalkeeper before this summer transfer window closes, but are not planning to acquire an undisputed number one. Earlier this year, the Manchester Evening News revealed that the club was looking for a new goalkeeper.
However, they did not consider the position a priority this summer. United explored possibly taking Emiliano Martinez on loan from Aston Villa, but scoffed at suggestions they could sign Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The Belgian football journalist David Van den Broeck now reports that Lammens is close to a transfer, mentioning United. As a result, Antwerp kept the goalkeeper on the sidelines for their game against KV Mechelen on Sunday.
Michel-Ange Balikwisha was also omitted from the squad, with a transfer to Celtic close. Lammens has started their first four matches of the Jupiler Pro League season, conceding a single goal in each game as part of an unbeaten start to the campaign.
Galatasaray, Inter and Lille are all credited with an interest in the 23-year-old, but the Mirror claims he wants a move to United. The report claims United will pay £16million plus add-ons, with Lammens expected to sign a five-year contract.
The goalkeeper reputedly views a Premier League move as the platform to challenge Thibaut Courtois for the Belgium national team. Their head coach, Rudi Garcia, has twice called up Lammens; however, when the Real Madrid goalkeeper missed two World Cup qualifiers in June, Matz Sels of Nottingham Forest deputised.
Lammens played nine times for their under-21s but did not qualify for this summer's European Championship. At 23, he is no longer eligible.
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