Peter Schmeichel has suggested that Senne Lammens wouldn’t have been Ruben Amorim’s first-choice goalkeeper when Manchester United entered the market in the final week of the window.
Despite maintaining throughout the summer that a new shot-stopper wouldn’t be brought in, lacklustre performances from Altay Bayindir in the Premier League and Andre Onana in the Carabao Cup prompted INEOS to pursue reinforcements in the dying embers of the window.
They would go on to hash out an agreement with Royal Antwerp for Lammens, who made the switch to United in an £18 million move on a five-year deal.
INEOS decided between Lammens and one other candidate before transfer deadline
Prior to Lammens’ arrival, United actually agreed personal terms with Emiliano Martinez, but never went as far as submitting a formal offer to Aston Villa for their vice captain.
Martinez was said to have his heart set on the move – so much so that he was dropped by Unai Emery when he was in talks with United, with Marco Bizot taking the Argentine’s place between the sticks against Crystal Palace on August 31.
Ultimately, INEOS’ key decision-makers leaned towards youth rather than experience, hence prioritising 23-year-old Lammens over the Villa veteran, who is 10 years his senior.
Lammens, an uncapped Belgian international, was made to wait over a month before being granted his debut by Amorim.
He started for the first time when the Reds hosted Sunderland last Saturday and secured a clean sheet in what was a commanding showing throughout the 2-0 win.
Schmeichel: Amorim would’ve preferred Martinez over Lammens
Fans are now pondering whether the ‘keeper will retain his place when United make the trip to Anfield on October 19, or whether Altay Bayindir will be restored to the XI, having started six of the seven top-flight matches played this term.
Speaking on BBC Sport’s Monday Night Club, Schmeichel claimed the Portuguese coach might’ve felt more confident had one of two other proven goalkeepers signed instead.
“I think he was very disappointed that it wasn’t [Gianluigi] Donnarumma or Emi Martinez who was arriving on that [deadline] day,” said the treble winner.
“And it was this young lad that I’m quite sure he (Amorim) probably didn’t know too much about.
“The rumour is that he signed purely on the data – that he’s had the best statistics over the last season in the best top 10 leagues or something like that, which, at the end of the day, tells you nothing when it comes to Manchester United goalkeeping.”
