Man Utd need ‘miracle’ from new signing fears former star

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster has aired concerns over the signing of Senne Lammens (Picture: YouTube)

Former Manchester United star Ben Foster has accused his old club of holding out for a miracle with the signing of Senne Lammens.

The 23-year-old completed a deadline day move last week after Ruben Amorim decided it was time to shake up his goalkeeping department.

A variety of options were considered, including Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez, before a 21m euros (£18.2m) plus add-ons deadline-day deal for Antwerp shot-stopper Lammens was finalised.

‘I am extremely proud to be joining Manchester United, it is a real dream come true,’ the 23-year-old said after signing a deal until 2030 at Old Trafford.

‘The past few years have been an amazing journey, it’s now ended in an incredible destination and hopefully the beginning of something special.

‘You can feel the positive atmosphere that is being created here and I know that I can make a real impact at the club in the coming years. I cannot wait to get to know my team-mates and begin working with Ruben and the coaching staff.

‘This is the perfect place to keep developing, grow together with this exciting team and achieve my career objectives.’

Senne Lammens joined Man Utd on transfer deadline day (Picture: Getty)

With United having sanctioned Andre Onana’s loan move to Trabzonspor, Lammens looks set to compete with Altay Bayindir for the No.1 spot this season, with veteran Tom Heaton also an option.

Lammens arrives with a lofty reputation and the backing of his compatriot Thibaut Courtois, but Foster fears the rookie is walking into an almost impossible situation.

‘Man City had Ederson, they’ve got Ortega who is a goo stand-in, James Trafford who is a Premier Leauge goalkeeper and Gigi Donnarumma who is a world class goalkeeper,’ Foster told his The Cycling Goalkeeper podcast.

Andre Onana is set to leave Manchester United on loan (Picture: Getty)

‘That’s the level if you want to be competing. Look at Liverpool with Alisson, Mama and they had Kellerher.

‘Manchester United is the hardest club to play for in the world, especially in that goalkeeping position. It’s harder than for anyone else.

‘They’ve got a kid now from the Belgian league, never played for the Belgium first team. They’re expecting this guy to be able to adapt not only to the Premier League but to Manchester United as well. You’re asking for an absolute miracle for this to work.

‘It wreaks of sticking a band aid on it really because Bayindir isn’t the answer. This kid, and A call him that at 23 because he is a kid in goalkeeper terms really. It’s asking an awful lot.

‘Tom Heaton will be sitting there thinking I’ve got half a chance here for that reliability and stability.

‘We’re not writing Lammens off yet, on the face of it the risk of it that’s involved, asking for this kid to come in and hit the ground running, you’re asking for a miracle.

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