SENNE LAMMENS could be the next David de Gea at Manchester United – and might finally solve the club’s nightmare with crosses.
The Red Devils released De Gea after 12 years of service for the supposedly more modern, “ball-playing” keeper Andre Onana.
2
2
And now, it looks like United are getting back to basics, bringing in an excellent shot-stopper after two miserable seasons of conceding goals left, right, and centre.
Lammens, 23, currently back-up to Altay Bayindir, is considered a project keeper who will one day become the club’s No1.
It somewhat brings back memories of De Gea, who joined United as a 20-year-old after helping Atletico Madrid win the Europa League and developed into perhaps the best goal protector in the world.
Belgian football journalist David Van de Broeck, who has closely monitored Lammens‘ rise at Royal Antwerp, told SunSport that the £18million signing is ready for the Premier League.
Van de Broeck said: “If you look at the physiques, Lammens arrives as a much bigger keeper than De Gea did in his first season.
“Lammens’ reflexes are incredible. And in one-on-one situations he is quite hard to beat because he often keeps cool.
“He saved six of his 12 penalties in his Antwerp-time, so you could say that’s his speciality.”
The promising young star’s 173 saves were 20 more than any other goalkeeper in any of Europe’s top 10 leagues last season.
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS
The big question is how he will deal with the physicality of the Prem, with zero Belgium caps under his belt.
Van de Broeck added: “He’s been comfortable with crosses but the Belgian league is nothing compared to the Premier League where you have all these powerhouses who can come and head the ball in.
“I’m curious to see how he will cope with it. But he likes to come and catch them and he’s big and heavy so they shouldn’t be able to push him aside that easily.”
De Gea’s problem on his arrival in 2011 was the Prem’s size from set-pieces, and he continued to have issues commanding his six-yard box and coming off his line.
Fourteen years on and those issues currently plague interim No1 Bayindir, 27, too – as seen when he flapped at Arsenal’s goal from Declan Rice’s corner and spilled the ball out against Burnley too.
Lammens faced shots worth a total of 45 expected goals in the league last season and conceded only 32, preventing 13 more than he really should have.
At the peak of his powers De Gea offset his airborne flaws by being one of the best in the world at keeping the ball out of the net, winning the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award FOUR times.
And that is what United so desperately need after conceding a record number of 54 Prem goals last season, sinking more than they scored in the last two campaigns on the trot.
Altay Bayindir struggles
Bayindir has endured a tough start this term, conceding eight goals in five games after United’s 2-1 victory over Chelsea on Saturday.
The Turkey international was largely untroubled by 10-man Chelsea as United dominated the first half, before Casemiro was also sent off before the break.
But he did concede the Blues’ only attempt on target when Trevoh Chalobah scored with a well-placed header to set up a nervy end.
Thibaut Courtois is another obvious comparison, and Lammens may eventually succeed the 33-year-old as Belgium’s No1.
‘Big question mark’
United legend Peter Schmeichel exclusively told SunSport that Sir Jim Ratcliffe should’ve signed Prem proven and World Cup winner Emi Martinez instead.
Van de Broeck answered Schmeichel’s “big question mark” about Lammens’ position at Belgium.
He said: “Courtois is the best in the world and Matz Sels is one of the best in the Premier League.
“He was also left out of the latest World Cup qualifiers for Mike Penders due to the transfer noise before his move.”
Nevertheless, SunSport understand Man Utd are still prioritising a major goalkeeper signing next year.
This comes after United manager Ruben Amorim confirmed last week he still does not have an outright No1 keeper.
