Andre Onana is expected to stay at Manchester United even if they sign Senne Lammens, talkSPORT understands.
talkSPORT first reported on July 18 that United were seriously interested in Royal Antwerp star Lammens and talks have intensified in recent days.
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The Belgian is likely to cost around £17m and will be brought in to compete with Onana for United’s number one jersey.
Sources in Belgium say personal terms between Lammens and United have already been agreed.
A deal for Lammens has accelerated following a poor display from incumbent Red Devils back-up gloveman Altay Bayindir against Arsenal last Sunday.
The Turkish international failed to deal with a corner from Declan Rice as his inability to divert the set-piece resulted in Riccardo Calafiori being gifted a header right in front of goal.
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Why didn’t Onana play against Arsenal?
Onana was left out of the matchday squad entirely despite overcoming a hamstring issue he sustained early in pre-season.
Red Devils boss Amorim confirmed he had Onana at his disposal had he wished to play him, but he opted to reward Bayindir and third choice goalkeeper Tom Heaton for their pre-season efforts.
“We try to choose the best players for each game, so next week is a different life,” Amorim said prior to the 1-0 loss to Arsenal.
“This week, we chose these players. No (he is not injured), he’s recovered, but the other guys did so well during pre-season, so I need to balance that.”
Who is Senne Lammens?
Although Onana may enjoy an instant return to the starting lineup for United on Sunday against Fulham, the potential arrival of Lammens would add further competition to what is already a respectable goalkeeping unit at Old Trafford.
Lammens has kept 12 clean sheets in 60 senior appearances for Antwerp since he made his debut in November 2023.
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His impressive displays between the sticks for Antwerp earned him a call-up to the Belgium squad for their Nations League play-off games against Ukraine last March, although he did not see any minutes.
Regardless, the call-up represented a strong indication he is highly regarded within the Belgian set-up as the former world No. 1 look towards the future.
Despite his young age as a goalkeeper, Lammens feels ready for the step up in quality and even believes his style ‘suits’ the Premier League.
“The first time I heard I thought, ‘Wow’,” Lammens said in an interview with Belgian publication Gazet van Antwerpen earlier this year.
“Immediately a world [renowned] team that follows you. That is special.
“Of course, I was also spoken to about it a lot and when I made a save in training, it was United this, United that [from colleagues]… It’s only positive.
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“Especially because it’s the best competition in the world and my profile, my stature and way of playing, is similar to English football.
“You have to physically hold your own there and that suits me.”
