Manchester United’s two results over the past week have shone a spotlight on two players, Senne Lammens and Benjamin Sesko.
The story at Manchester United right now is Michael Carrick. And the current head coach deserves real credit for putting the pieces of the squad puzzle together in a way Ruben Amorim made overly complicated.
But a lot of the credit deserves to go to United’s recruitment team, who put the squad together,
Senne Lammens and Benjamin Sesko have stood out in recent weeks, and my personal feeling around them is that United have solved two long-term problem positions.
Senne Lammens, and Benjamin Sesko in background
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Do you agree with Edwin van der Sar over his Lammens praise?
He was excellent against Everton, but is he the long-term goalkeeper for United?
Edwin van der Sar quotes on Senne Lammens
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Senne Lammens and Benjamin Sesko impact
I cannot begin to imagine how Manchester United’s game against Everton would have gone if Andre Onana had been in goal, or Altay Bayindir. The two goalkeepers recruited under the John Murtough-led Erik ten Hag regime both conceded goals direct from corners during the 2024/25 season.
Bayindir, a stop-gap back-up, was at fault for Arsenal’s winner at Old Trafford earlier in the season.
Senne Lammens has come in and changed everything. His commanding performance against Everton in the 1-0 win drew praise from club legend Edwin van der Sar.
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Lammens has the ability and the demeanour to be a success story for United. He has made a big impact in goal since he made his debut against Sunderland at the start of October.
He has had a positive impact on supporters too. Personally I feel calm whenever the ball goes in his direction. Whether it be a pass back to his feet, a cross, or a shot at goal, I expect Lammens to deal with it competently.
That might be basic expectations, but we have been denied this in recent years.
Andre Onana made United fans nervous with almost everything he did. David de Gea’s final three seasons were difficult to watch at times too. He was poor with the ball at his feet and reluctant to come off his line.
Lammens is a long-term investment, who has made an instant impact. He thrives in areas De Gea struggled with. I feel confident that the 23-year-old will be a big part of United’s future for many years to come.
The same can be said for striker Benjamin Sesko, who has scored seven goals in 2026, making up for a slow start to the season.
There were doubts over Sesko when he arrived, he took a little while to adjust to the Premier League and then suffered an injury that set his progress back. The managerial change has benefited him a lot.
Sesko’s headed winner against Crystal Palace was excellent, and the best part about it was, he made it look routine.
And in truth, it’s becoming a little like that. Sesko is scoring goals on a regular basis, netting important game-changing strikes. He is becoming a player Manchester United can depend on, similar to Lammens.
The 22-year-old forward is a player United can build around. The club resisted temptation to make short-term moves for Ollie Watkins and Emiliano Martinez in the summer, choosing two prospects. For those two players to become immediate successes in the first season is a perfect outcome.
The goalkeeper and striker positions are essential to the success of any team, arguably the hardest in football to get right, and Manchester United look to have solved them in one summer. That’s incredibly tough to do.
Have you been convinced by Sesko like Carrick has?
He's in amazing form, but what else does he need to add?
Sesko Carrick
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Manchester United have got it badly wrong over the years
United’s recruitment team under Ineos deserve major credit for the signings of Lammens and Sesko.
The goalkeeper position is one United have struggled with, even in the Sir Alex Ferguson era. After Peter Schmeichel retired, we went through Mark Bosnich, Massimo Taibi, Fabian Barthez, Tim Howard and Roy Carroll, before finally landing Edwin van der Sar six years later.
Andre Onana was clearly the wrong choice to replace David de Gea. This was a signing pushed by former boss Erik ten Hag, and he must take the blame for that.
The striker position has been a tricky one too. United’s focus during the post-Ferguson era has ranged from ageing stars like Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Edinson Cavani, to young prospects like Anthony Martial and Rasmus Hojlund. There was limited success with all four, but nothing sustainable.
It’s early days for Benjamin Sesko, but time is on his side and he has made a terrific start during his first season.
What’s next for Manchester United to solve? Midfield
Manchester United’s recruitment team will be tasked with trying to do it all over again in summer 2026, when midfield comes into sharp focus.
Casemiro’s impending exit creates a big gap in midfield, and United face a battle just to stand still, the Brazilian has been so impactful.
United likely need two midfield signings, due to the increase in games next season with European qualification likely.
It’s expected that United will target a Premier League proven player, but the club could also look abroad for a complementary piece to the puzzle too.
Midfield has been a blind spot for United dating back to the latter years of the Sir Alex Ferguson era, and this will be a tough position for the club to try and get right this summer.
Given the recent successes, I feel confident the club will make the right calls this summer to get it right.
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