At a Glance
- Manchester United prepare goalkeeper exodus
- Lammens now undisputed number one
- Club will use loanee as Belgian’s understudy
Manchester United could let up to four goalkeepers this summer as they look to tighten up their last line of defence. Both Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir have failed to impress in their spell at the club, with both set to face the chopping block.
Onana is currently out on loan at Turkish club Trabzonspor, where he has kept five clean sheets in 23 games. The Cameroonian shot-stopper has impressed, with his performances helping push the club up to third in the table, four places higher than last season.
Bayindir, however, has failed to get a look in after his dilapidated, mistake-strewn first six games of the season, in which he shipped 11 goals, as the Red Devils dropped to 14th in the league.
Exit doors at Old Trafford
Since Senne Lammens joined on deadline day last summer, he has steadied a ship that was floundering at the back.
The 23-year-old Belgian may have conceded 32 goals in 26 appearances—keeping just five clean sheets in the process—but the young keeper has been a breath of fresh air at the back for United, making zero errors leading to goals.
Lammens’ shot-stopping abilities are even more impressive. The Belgian has registered 3.7 goals prevented (xGOT), the third highest in the Premier League.
Lammens’ performances have not only kept Bayindir out of the squad, but also forced Jason Wilcox to reconsider the Turkish keeper’s future entirely.
Also reportedly set to leave Manchester United are former number one Andre Onana, who is expected to remain in Turkey; third-choice keeper Tom Heaton, with whom the club plans to hold discussions in the coming weeks; and reserve goalkeeper Dermot Mee.
Heaton is the least likely to leave. Not only has he built a strong working relationship with Lammens, but he is also part of a six-man leadership group alongside Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, Diogo Dalot, and Noussair Mazraoui.
Radek Vitek: ready for his chance?
Just 16 years old when he joined Manchester United’s academy, Radek Vitek may be finally about to step up to the first-team plate.
The Czech keeper has spent the last two seasons out on loan, frequenting the English lower league and the Austrian first division. Vitek has started 33 games for Bristol City, registering 2.1 goals prevented, whilst having a 69.9% save percentage.
He remains under contract until 2028 but has yet to make a first-team appearance, despite being named on the bench seven times. The club consider that his loan to Bristol City has been extremely beneficial, and he may have first-team football potential.
