Manchester United identified the need for a change in between the sticks going into the current campaign as Senne Lammens was signed from Royal Antwerp.
The young Belgian goalkeeper moved to Old Trafford for a fee of £18.1m on the final day of the summer transfer window.
United brought in the 22-year-old after growing discontent with Andre Onana’s displays in net and to provide competition for the No. 1 spot with Altay Bayindir.
After being eased in and getting named on the bench for the first three games following his arrival, Lammens made his debut for Ruben Amorim’s side against Sunderland right before the October international break.
It was a successful first outing in a United shirt for the Belgian as he kept a clean sheet in his new side’s 2-0 Premier League victory at Old Trafford.
Ex-United keeper feels old side made the wrong signing in goal
While Lammens put in a solid display on his first United appearance, not everyone is convinced the club should have gone after a young goalkeeper.
Former United shotstopper Ben Foster retains this belief as according to him, the pressure of being the club’s starting keeper demands a more experienced individual to have the responsibility.
“To play for United, especially as a goalkeeper, it’s the hardest position in world football. I really do think that you need somebody with a bit of aura about them,” he told talkSPORT.
“Emiliano Martinez of Gigi Donnarumma would have been a perfect fit this summer. I thought it was an absolute no-brainer.”
“I’m willing to give Lammens a chance because he got off to a fantastic start against Sunderland, but it’s a big ask coming from the Belgian league to then step up and be United’s first choice goalkeeper,” the ex-United keeper claimed.
The Red Devils were linked to Martinez throughout the summer, but the club opted to go down the long-term route and move for Lammens instead.
Foster believes United’s new keeper could be set for a challenging task this Sunday (October 19) when the team travels to face arch-rivals Liverpool.
“He (Lammens) played against Sunderland and looked really good. The acid test is going to come in the games like on Sunday. Liverpool at Anfield.”
“He’s going to be under a lot of pressure. There’s going to be a lot of scrutiny, a lot of eyes on him,” Foster stated.
It remains to be seen whether Amorim continues with Lammens in goal for the tough trip to Merseyside or brings Bayindir back in to start against the Premier League holders.
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