Rio Ferdinand has questioned whether Manchester United target Senne Lammens has the experience required to solve his former side’s goalkeeping troubles.
The Red Devils find themselves 16th in the Premier League table after failing to win either of their opening two fixtures.
Arsenal left Old Trafford with all three points on the opening day of the season before United had to settle for a 1-1 draw at Fulham on Sunday.
Ruben Amorim‘s side have nevertheless showed slight signs of improvement on last season, with his favoured back three of Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt and Luke Shaw forming a promising partnership and new recruits Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbuemo providing a spark up front.
But the Red Devils’ clear Achilles’ heel so far this term has been in goal, with Amorim opting for Altay Bayindir in place of last season’s regular Andre Onana, who is seemingly surplus to requirements.
The Turkish international has struggled to impress despite his manager’s very public backing of him, flapping under crosses and appearing less than confident with the ball at his feet.
Rio Ferdinand has questioned whether Man United target Senne Lammens is experienced enough to be the No 1 at Old Trafford
The Belgian goalkeeper looks set to leave Royal Antwerp for the Red Devils in a deal worth £17m
His struggles have prompted United bosses Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrarda to make a late bid to sign Royal Antwerp’s 23-year-old shot-stopper Senne Lammens.
The Belgian, who missed his side’s fixture against Mechelen at the weekend, is believed to be edging closer to completing his move to the Premier League after agreeing personal terms with United.
Red Devils great Rio Ferdinand has however questioned whether Lammens is the answer to his former side’s woes in net, arguing United should be targeting a more experienced ‘keeper.
‘United have entered negotiations for Senne Lammens, who is a young 23-year-old keeper from Antwerp, but he’s not experienced,’ the 46-year-old said on his Rio Ferdinand Presents channel on YouTube.
‘Is this more about squad depth and not someone who is going to come in and play immediately?
‘Do Manchester United need to go and get someone who can steady the ship in that position or are they trusting who they’ve got, Bayindir and Onana, to fight it out for the number one?
‘Onana is going to be heading off to AFCON in the winter which is going to make it difficult again. I don’t know, man. It’s going to have to be sorted out in the future because at the moment, there’s uncertainty in the backline.
‘As a defender, I know that uncertainty behind me creates panic and if you’re going to be successful and consistent, you can’t have that.’
United’s move for Lammens comes amid Altay Bayindir’s struggles in goal
Last season’s regular Andre Onana looks surplus to requirements this season
United are yet to register a win this season and have scored just one goal
Ferdinand described Bayindir’s short stint as No 1 so far this season as ‘shaky’, but feels the 27-year-old has showed signs of potential.
‘Onana hasn’t found consistency yet and his replacement looks shaky from set-pieces,’ he argued.
‘I think Bayindir has got potential but at the moment he looks quite nervous, especially when the ball is put in under that crossbar. And at the weekend, there was a mistake for a goal. At set-pieces, we look vulnerable.’
‘I came to the club when Fabian Barthez was there. But before that, Peter Schemichel was there. Barthez was a World Cup winner and still didn’t look comfortable so it’s a hard role.
‘After that, we had Tim Howard, Roy Carroll, Tomasz Kuszczak, Ricardo, until we found Edwin [van der Sar].
‘Edwin was hugely experienced, won a load of stuff, and then he came in and was wonderful, one of the best goalkeepers that Manchester United have ever had. But it shows you that it’s not an easy position to fill.’
United travel to Grimsby this evening for a tie in the second round of the Carabao Cup, with Amorim expected to make wholesale changes.
Both Kobbie Mainoo, who is supposedly open to leaving Old Trafford before next week’s deadline, and Joshua Zirkzee are yet to have featured for the Red Devils this season and are therefore in-line for starts.
While new recruit Benjamin Sesko could be set for his first start for United after coming off the bench in his new side’s opening two games of the season.
