This is a rather urgent strategic change when the summer market session is only counted in hours. Previously, buying more goalkeepers was not a priority for Man United, unless one of the two names Andre Onana or Altay Bayindir left.
However, everything changed after the opening defeat to Arsenal, where Bayindir made a mistake that led to a 0-1 loss. Before they could recover, the "Red Devils" continued to be eliminated from the League Cup by Grimsby Town, with Andre Onana making direct mistakes.
The choice of Senne Lammens, instead of world-class stars such as Emiliano Martinez ( Aston Villa) or Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG) shows the new approach of the "Red Devils" with a potential goalkeeper, not immediately a starting goalkeeper but capable of becoming the number 1 when needed.
Ruben Amorim has no intention of eliminating Andre Onana or Altay Bayindir to immediately give Senne Lammens the No. 1 spot. Instead, the 23-year-old rookie is expected to be a long-term, healthy option and ready to replace him when Onana joins Can Can Can 2025 with Cameroon in December.
Lammens' biggest weapon is their reflexes. Last season's statistics at Royal Antwerp showed that he had a PSxG (expected goals conceded after a shot) of+24.5. This means Lammens have saved more than 14 goals compared to the average, ranking 2nd in the Belgian league and 3rd in the top 8 European leagues.
In addition, Lammens had 127 saves (the most in the league), achieving a save percentage of 81.4%. He also stood out in high pressure situations when blocking 5/7 penalties last season, the number 1 achievement in all 10 biggest tournaments in Europe.
In the face-to-face, Lammens quickly rushed out to close the angle, maintaining good balance, forcing their opponents to make difficult decisions. That style evokes the image of David De Gea in 2017-2019 when he often waited until the moment the ball was fired, taking advantage of his whole leg to block. This helps create a solid retaining wall at close range.
However, that determination of Lammens also comes with risks. The habit of jumping up early sometimes made him passive, not having time to stabilize his posture when the opponent finished. Many times, he was pulled away from the goal, creating space for the striker to exploit.
Another bright spot is the ball handling. Lammens led the Belgian league last season with 44 air-to- air-to- air combat blocks, far surpassing other opponents. Confidence in running out to pick up the ball not only helps reduce the load on the defense, it also changes the situation in the messy phases in the penalty area.
However, he has not yet reached the level of accuracy of Martinez ( Aston Villa) or David Raya (Arsenal). Sometimes, Lammens were too hasty, choosing the wrong time to jump up and leaving the goal open. Goalkeeper coaches still think that it is easier to edit a goalkeeper who is too daring than a goalkeeper who is indecisive. However, Premier League fans will certainly not forgive if Lammens makes mistakes in set pieces.
Not only good at blocking, Lammens also possesses impressive footwork. He is right-footed but uses his left foot quite confidently, becoming one of the goalkeepers with the most passes in the Belgian league last season with 859 successful passes (4th) with an accuracy rate of 76.5%. He can deploy short and long distances, flexible in deployment.
In particular, Lammens also leads the league in the number of shots (167), often launching long-range, accurate shots, creating quick counter-attacks. This reminded Man United fans of the image of legend Peter Schmeichel in the 1990s.
At the age of 23, Lammens has shown confidence and a strong personality. He often directs the defense, shouts and celebrates fiercely after each important save. These are characteristics that Ruben Amorim highly appreciates. With a height of 1.93m, he has an ideal body for the Premier League and more importantly, his presence reassures his teammates.
Of course, Lammens are still far from perfect. He needs more time to get used to the speed, power and harshness of English football. However, like Benjamin Sesko, Senne Lammens is a long-term investment with outstanding development potential.
Man United do not expect Lammens to immediately solve the woodwork crisis, but believe that he can become a sustainable solution for many years to come.
