Manchester United Close On Signing Antwerp Goalkeeper Senne Lammens In €20m Deal

Manchester United are closing successful connected nan signing of Royal Antwerp goalkeeper Senne Lammens for astir €20m (£17m), pinch nan 23-year-old expected to compete pinch André Onana.

Onana’s spot astatine United has been nether scrutiny pursuing a drawstring of unconvincing displays aft his arrival from Inter for £44.4m successful July 2023. The Cameroon world was near retired of nan squad for nan opening-day nonaccomplishment to Arsenal past play only to spot his replacement, Altay Bayindir, make an correction that straight led to Riccardo Calafiori’s winning goal.

Onana expects to stay astatine United beyond nan existent transportation model having been made alert that nan nine person rebuffed enquiries from different clubs for his services but he is now poised to look further unit for his spot from Lammens.

The 6ft 3in Belgium Under-21 world made his elder debut for Club Brugge successful July 2021 earlier moving to Antwerp 2 years later, making a first quality for nan nine that November successful a 2-0 Champions League conclusion to Porto. Sources successful Belgium propose United person agreed position pinch nan subordinate but it is understood that is not yet nan case.

Onana is apt to miss portion of nan play owed to his engagement successful Cameroon’s Africa Cup of Nations run successful Morocco. Their opening lucifer is against Gabon connected Christmas Eve.

Senne Lammens makes a prevention for Royal Antwerp against Royale Union Saint-Gilloise. Photograph: BSR Agency/Getty Images

Meanwhile, Ruben Amorim says it is “not a bully thing” to person 4 first-team players training distant from nan squad and not being considered for selection. Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho, Antony, Tyrell Malacia, and person been moving separately since nan commencement of pre-season arsenic they activity moves distant from Old Trafford.

None of nan 4 were included successful nan squad for United’s pre-season tour, nor did they characteristic successful nan opening-day conclusion to Arsenal. They will besides not beryllium portion of nan squad that travels to Fulham connected Sunday. United will ideally seal exits, imperishable aliases temporary, for nan quartet earlier nan transportation model closes connected 1 September. But if they do not leave, Amorim is unfastened to reintegrating them into his squad.

“I cognize that is not a bully point to person players successful this business but it’s clear they want to play successful a different nine and that is clear,” Amorim said. “We effort to put everything for some parties to beryllium happy, truthful I person to effort to ideate to person nan training pinch nan guys that I deliberation are going to beryllium nan early and nan different guys are training and preparing for nan adjacent chapter. When nan model is closed it’s a different history,we person to person nan players and successful a caller life.”

Garnacho has attracted liking from Chelsea; Sancho has held talks pinch Roma, Antony could perchance return to Real Betis wherever he spent nan 2nd half of past play connected loan, and Malacia is simply a target for Celtic, Besiktas and Porto. United are yet to waste a subordinate for a interest this summer. Of nan elder players nether contract, only Marcus Rashford has departed. The England guardant joined Barcelona connected a season-long loan, pinch nan Catalan nine covering his wages.

Benjamin Sesko is apt to commencement successful onslaught astatine Craven Cottage aft coming disconnected nan chair for his debut against Arsenal past Sunday. Speaking astir nan business successful goal, Amorim said: “Onana is fresh to play for illustration past week, truthful we will spot successful nan crippled who is going to beryllium nan goalkeeper”