Will Senne Lammens Be Man Utd’s New No.1? Gary Neville Weighs In

Manchester United legend Gary Neville has revealed the club’s plan for Senne Lammens after the Belgian goalkeeper’s £18 million move from Royal Antwerp on deadline day.

Why Did Man Utd Sign Senne Lammens?

United made a late push for a goalkeeper after disastrous starts to the 2025-26 campaign from Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir.

Bayindir conceded four goals in his first three Premier League matches, with glaring errors against Arsenal and Burnley, while Onana’s struggles continued in the Carabao Cup, where a mistake-ridden performance against Grimsby Town saw United dumped out in the second round.

That run of results forced United to act in the final days of the window.

While Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez was considered, the Red Devils opted to invest in the 23-year-old Lammens, who is regarded as one of Belgium’s most promising young keepers.

Gary Neville on Man Utd Goalkeeper Situation

Speaking to NBC Sports, Neville provided insight into how United plan to use their new signing.

“I’ve been asking around about that one this morning and spoke to a few people at United. The feeling is the new boy coming in would probably be a No. 2 who would start on the bench, but they absolutely do need a No. 1,” Neville explained.

The comments seem to suggest Lammens is seen as a development project rather than an immediate first-choice solution, at least in the short term.

Will Senne Lammens Start for Man Utd?

Speculation is building over whether Lammens could feature in the starting XI after the international break.

United face their toughest test yet on September 14, when they travel to the Etihad for a Manchester derby against Pep Guardiola’s City.

While Neville believes Lammens will begin as Ruben Amorim’s No.2, the pressure on both Bayindir and Onana means the Belgian could be called upon sooner rather than later if mistakes continue.

Man Utd Goalkeeper Depth

United now have four senior goalkeepers competing for the No.1 shirt:

• Andre Onana – signed for £47m from Inter in 2023, but his confidence appears shattered.

• Altay Bayindir – impressed initially but has struggled badly in recent weeks.

• Tom Heaton – experienced but way past his best.

• Senne Lammens – young, relatively untested at the highest level, but seen as a long-term investment.

For now, Lammens is expected to act as understudy while adapting to the pace of English football.

But with United desperate for consistency and their season hopes already under threat, Amorim may be forced into a gamble sooner than he would like.

The Belgian’s arrival represents both a short-term stopgap and a long-term play. Whether he becomes United’s new No.1 this season could depend less on his own readiness — and more on how long Onana and Bayindir’s struggles continue.