Senne Lammens will not be participating in Royal Antwerp's upcoming game against KV Mechelen, fueling speculation that his move to Manchester United is nearing completion. The 23-year-old goalkeeper's absence from the squad suggests that Antwerp doesn't want to risk him playing in the fixture amidst the ongoing transfer negotiations.
Manchester United is reportedly close to finalizing a deal with Royal Antwerp for Lammens, with the transfer fee estimated to be around €20 million (£17 million). While terms between United and the player are believed to be close to being agreed, sources indicate that the deal is not yet final. There was a late bid made by Galatasaray to try and hijack the transfer.
Lammens' potential arrival at Old Trafford comes at a time when the goalkeeping position is under scrutiny. André Onana, who joined United from Inter Milan for £44.4 million in July 2023, has faced criticism for inconsistent performances. Onana was absent from the squad in the opening-day loss to Arsenal. His replacement, Altay Bayindir, also made a costly error in that game. Despite the questions surrounding Onana's form, he anticipates remaining at United beyond the current transfer window, as the club has reportedly turned down offers from other clubs for his services. However, Lammens' arrival is expected to intensify the competition for the starting spot.
Ruben Amorim, Manchester United's head coach, has publicly expressed satisfaction with the current goalkeeping options. However, the signing of Lammens is viewed as a strategic move for the long term. United are forward planning with the knowledge that Onana could be absent representing Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations in December and January.
Lammens, a 6' 3" Belgium Under-21 international, began his senior career with Club Brugge in July 2021 before joining Antwerp two years later. During the 2024/25 season, Lammens established himself as Antwerp's first-choice goalkeeper. His performances have been particularly noteworthy for his shot-stopping abilities and penalty saves. He dominated the Pro League with 127 saves and prevented 14.5 goals, a mark better than David de Gea's iconic 2017/18 season. Lammens also won Antwerp's fan-voted Player of the Month award multiple times.
If the transfer goes through, Lammens is expected to sign a five-year contract. He sees the move to the Premier League as an opportunity to eventually compete for the No. 1 spot with the Belgium national team, currently held by Real Madrid's Thibaut Courtois.
Lammens' statistics highlight why Manchester United views him as a long-term solution in goal. In the 2024/25 season, he recorded the most saves (178) and prevented the most goals (15.8) in world football. He also ranked highly for goals prevented, save percentage, passing accuracy, and crosses stopped.
