Football General Manager
- United interested in Lammens
- Initial talks have taken place
- Onana is injured amid Martinez links
United are expected to ‘step up their interest’ in 23-year-old Royal Antwerp goalkeeper Lammens, reports Alex Crook of talkSPORT on X. Initial talks have taken place with interest dating back to January, confirmed Ben Jacobs in another post on X. The Sun report a deal for Lammens may cost £17million (€19.6m/$22.9m).
With Onana injured for most of pre-season and doubts existing over his long-term future at Old Trafford, the signing of a young goalkeeper could be a smart move. Not only can he provide cover in the present, the former Club Brugge academy star is viewed as one of Europe’s brightest goalkeeping prospects and could make United’s No. 1 jersey his own in the long term. This move may cast doubt over United’s pursuit of Emiliano Martinez.
During his time at Brugge, Lammens once scored a goal against Real Madrid in the 2019/20 UEFA Youth League group stages, heading home to earn a 2-2 draw and send his side through to the knock-out round play-offs. Lammens made 41 appearances last season in his first year as Antwerp’s No. 1, keeping ten clean sheets as his side finished fifth in the Belgian Pro League.
Should a transfer to Old Trafford go through, Lammens may be thrust straight into Ruben Amorim’s starting XI for the Red Devils’ Premier League Summer Series clashes with West Ham United and Bournemouth. It is believed Onana may be back from injury to feature against Everton on August 3. In the meantime, United will hope to finally get a deal for Bryan Mbeumo over the line. A £71m fee has reportedly agreed with Brentford.