Lammens arrived at Old Trafford from Royal Antwerp for £18.1m last summer during a reshuffle in the goalkeeping department. Initially, United had not planned to sign another goalkeeper, but inconsistent performances from Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir prompted a change of course. The 23-year-old was brought in to challenge for the starting role, with the possibility that one of the existing options would move on.
He quickly impressed the coaching staff and emerged as Amorim’s first-choice goalkeeper. Onana subsequently joined Trabzonspor on loan, while Bayindir has largely been confined to the bench since September. Lammens’ composure and early displays even drew praise from former United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
However, Ferguson’s former assistant Rene Meulensteen has voiced reservations about the young keeper’s readiness. He questioned Lammens’ leadership qualities, personality, and certain technical aspects of his game, arguing that Manchester United need a truly elite goalkeeper to thrive in European competition and high-pressure encounters.
Meulensteen pointed to top-level shot-stoppers such as Gianluigi Donnarumma, whose crucial saves can decide major matches. In his view, Lammens still has significant development ahead before reaching that standard, particularly given the demands of Champions League football and the scrutiny that comes with playing at the highest level.
He also commended Sunderland’s Robin Roefs for his consistent Premier League performances, highlighting his reliability and strong character. Nevertheless, Meulensteen emphasized that excelling at Sunderland carries different expectations compared to representing Manchester United.
United currently occupy fourth place in the Premier League table, with Carrick unbeaten in his caretaker spell. Attention now turns to Monday night’s clash with Everton, as the team aims to maintain momentum and build greater consistency under interim leadership.
