The scrutiny on players when they sign for Manchester United is big enough as it is, so for the club to add to it by putting expectations on him speaks volumes about how highly they value him.
Man Utd signed four players in the recently concluded summer transfer window, and Diego Leon and Enzo Kana-Biyik arrived after signing in January.
This was added to the usual youth recruitment Ineos focus on to strengthen the academy sides, so the squad is set for the present and the future.
Of all the players the club signed this summer, Fabrizio Romano says United believe they got their hands on the “next big thing”.
Photo by Manchester United/Manchester United via Getty ImagesMan Utd have high hopes for Senne Lammens
The deadline day at Old Trafford was marked by the signing of Senne Lammens after a topsy-turvy saga which left Emi Martinez distraught.
It was clear, once the dust had settled, that United viewed Lammens as their top target from the beginning, pulling off a masterstroke by pitting Martinez against him to lower the price.
Lammens’ style of play should leave the fans very excited, but, then again, it doesn’t take much for the Man Utd fans to get excited, especially if the player is replacing Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir.
However, it is worth sitting up and taking notice when the club are flowing in that wave of euphoria as well, which seems to be happening with Lammens.
Fabrizio Romano, speaking on his YouTube channel, said that Onana’s move to Trabzonspor is imminent because Lammens’ is rated extremely highly within the club.
He said: “The understanding is that Ruben Amorim and Manchester United management, as they invested in Senne Lammens, believe that the Belgian goalkeeper can be the next big thing, can be a really important goalkeeper, not just someone who can sit on the bench for the whole season.
“They want Lammens to play. They want him to compete with Bayindir, but to play. This is why Onana feels that, probably, at Manchester United, there is not going to be enough space for him. This is why this deal with Trabzonspor is expected to happen.”
Ruben Amorim’s ruthlessness was long overdue
Much has been written about the players who were exiled by United before the start of the pre-season, but Ruben Amorim’s ruthlessness has been on full display with two players who weren’t a part of that group.
Rasmus Hojlund and now Onana have both been discarded in a swift manner as soon as Amorim got their replacements.
They went from starting every game and seeing themselves get defended by Amorim to not seeing the pitch again.
This is the kind of ruthlessness that has been long overdue and much needed in a high-profile environment like Man Utd.
Both these players received ample opportunities to impress, but ultimately ran out of rope. It’s not clear yet if Amorim will succeed or fail at United, but Ineos are making sure the club’s culture is fully reset now.