Senne Lammens: Man United goalkeeper receives major honour

The Premier League giants were looking for a long-term replacement for the outgoing David de Gea in the summer of 2023 when they decided to invest in Andre Onana . It appeared a smart move at the time, given that the Cameroonian had just featured in the Champions League final with Inter Milan. However, Onana succumbed to the pressures of Old Trafford, with his error-prone performances ensuring that the position was never far from the headlines.

Former head coach Ruben Amorim identified the position as a weakness in the team last summer and reportedly wanted Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez as Onana’s replacement. The Argentine had enjoyed tremendous success with his nation, winning the World Cup, among other honours. However, United sprang a surprise by going with the instincts of chief goalkeeper scout Tony Coton and signed the relatively unknown Lammens instead.

Nine months later, the Belgian has earned a place in the hearts of every Red Devils fan. Just what United needed Coton has since revealed the intricate process of selecting Lammens, who was hardly a panic buy. Instead, the move represents a patient, calculated selection procedure for which the recruitment team deserves a pat on the back.

It is a testament to the Belgian’s abilities that United’s goalkeeping department is hardly making headlines now except for the right reasons. Baby Courtois marked his debut for the Red Devils with a clean sheet in the 2-0 win over Sunderland last October. Lammens has since registered six more clean sheets in 32 appearances for the English giants and is now a guaranteed starter under Michael Carrick .