Despite public pronouncements of satisfaction with his current goalkeeping options, Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim is reportedly far from content, a sentiment fueled by the inconsistent performances of both Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir since their arrival at Old Trafford two seasons ago. While Amorim has overseen positive changes in the team's attacking lineup this summer, the goalkeeping position remains a glaring concern for the Red Devils.
The instability between the posts has been a source of constant worry. The €50 million acquisition of Onana from Inter Milan has failed to replicate his past distribution prowess, and his shot-stopping has been marred by costly errors. Bayindir, the backup keeper, has not fared much better, often appearing vulnerable during corner kicks. A particularly damaging instance was during the match against Arsenal, where Bayindir's hesitant goalkeeping played a significant role in Manchester United's defeat, drawing sharp criticism.
Amidst this backdrop, Manchester United are reportedly planning to make a move for a goalkeeper in the final weeks of the transfer window. According to reports, the club is eyeing Senne Lammens, the 23-year-old goalkeeper from Belgian side Royal Antwerp, with a potential bid of €10 million being considered. However, this valuation may fall short of Antwerp's demands, with the Belgian club reportedly seeking close to double that amount.
While Lammens has emerged as a primary target, favored by the club's hierarchy for his youth, affordable price tag, and willingness to initially serve as a backup while possessing the potential to challenge Onana for the starting spot, other goalkeepers have been linked with a move to Manchester United this summer.
One such name is Paris Saint-Germain's Gianluigi Donnarumma, although the Italian international appears more likely to join Manchester City. Another potential candidate was Aston Villa's Emiliano Martinez. It was even revealed that Amorim had requested the club to sign Martinez at the beginning of the summer transfer window, with the Argentinian also eager to join Manchester United. However, Sir Jim Ratcliffe's INEOS group ultimately rejected the idea, deeming the 32-year-old's price tag and age unsuitable. It has been suggested that Aston Villa would only consider parting ways with the Argentinian for a substantial offer, around ￡40 million.
The pursuit of Donnarumma also presents significant hurdles. While former Manchester United star Wayne Rooney urged the club to disregard Donnarumma's high wages and secure his services, journalist Ben Jacobs has labeled the transfer as highly improbable. Donnarumma is reportedly already in agreement with Manchester City, and any attempt by Manchester United to hijack the deal would require the sale of either Onana or Bayindir, and more specifically, Onana. The combined wages of Donnarumma and Onana would create an exorbitant goalkeeping payroll, dwarfing even the salaries of David de Gea and Sergio Romero during their time at the club. De Gea, who was the team's highest earner before his departure, earned ￡375,000 per week, an amount that pales in comparison to Donnarumma's wage demands.
According to transfer expert Dean Jones, as reported by TEAMtalk, INEOS prefer to sign young players, a preference which makes the move for Lammens more likely. Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Lammens is a player the club has been following for a long time: \"Manchester United still want to sign a goalkeeper and the one I’m still keeping an eye on is Senne Lammens, very talented Belgian goalkeeper from Antwerp. Man United have been scouting him for a long time. I mentioned to you guys already in July, August of Man United’s interest in him, the interest is still there. I think that if Man United from now until the end of the window decide to invest in a goalkeeper, Lammens is a goalkeeper they appreciate. So this could be a possibility.\"
However, Manchester United's estimated €10 million valuation of Lammens may prove insufficient to convince Antwerp to sell, with the Belgian club reportedly seeking a fee closer to €20 million, or at the very least, €17 million, for the promising young goalkeeper.
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