Manchester United are advancing in talks with Royal Antwerp for goalkeeper Senne Lammens.
A new goalkeeper had not been on the agenda at Old Trafford unless Andre Onana was sold, but that position has changed in light of the opening weekend defeat by Arsenal.
Antwerp have been looking for a fee of around €20million for Lammens, according to reports, and negotiations are progressing between the clubs.
Lammens, 23, is 6ft 4in (193cm) tall and has played 52 games in the Belgian Pro League. His arrival, should United complete a deal, would add competition for Onana.
Ruben Amorim left Onana, 29, out of United’s Premier League loss to Arsenal, starting Altay Bayindir and selecting Tom Heaton, 39, on the bench. Onana had completed three training sessions after missing all of pre-season with a hamstring injury, but was fit to play.
Bayindir, 27, attracted scrutiny for punching Declan Rice’s corner towards his own goal, under pressure from William Saliba, allowing Riccardo Calafiori to nod in on the line. Amorim defended his goalkeeper, insisting a foul should have been awarded. Bayindir’s passing did aid United attacks.
Analysis
Lammens is a young goalkeeper United have scouted and the club’s hierarchy, led by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, view now as the right time to look at bringing him to Old Trafford.
United made a loan offer for Emi Martinez, 32, at Aston Villa earlier in the window, but declined the chance to pursue Gianluigi Donnarumma due to his high wage demands. Donnarumma, 26, is expected to leave Paris Saint-Germain after failing to agree a new contract.
Should Lammens arrive it would raise the question of Bayindir’s future, although cover is required for when Onana goes to represent Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations in December and January. Onana is set to stay at United.
(Photo: Tom Gyvaerts/Belga/AFP via Getty Images)