Senne Lammens explains what he’ll bring to Man United after £18m transfer | OneFootball

Manchester United’s newest signing, Senne Lammens, has described himself as an “all-round” goalkeeper in his first interview since joining the Red Devils.

“If you want to be top…”

United completed the €25 million deal with Royal Antwerp for Lammens in a frantic deadline day at Old Trafford.

The Belgium U-21 international flew to Manchester without a firm agreement in place between the clubs – with a compromise eventually being struck after a week of protracted negotiations.

United had also been exploring a move for Aston Villa number one Emiliano Martinez, but Lammens was the recruitment department’s first-choice target after a series of glowing reports from scouts.

Sporting director Jason Wilcox describes the 23-year-old shot stopper as an “excellent young goalkeeper with great potential.”

Lammens believes he is an “all-round” goalkeeper, capable of affecting play with both his feet and his hands – traits on short supply at Old Trafford in recent years.

“I’m quite all-round, I take pride in that,” the Belgian explained. “Of course, you have working points that you can improve at everything.

“I like to play from the back also with the team, at my feet. I like to help the team with controlling the space behind the defence, helping my defenders. And, of course, if you want to be a top goalkeeper at this level, you have to be a good shot-stopper, so I think I’m an all-round [keeper].

“I can improve also and I’m already eager to start training and improving so that I can take the next step.”

Inspiration from a compatriot

Lammens reveals he “watched a lot of football growing up” and his “inspirations” as he progressed in his career were fellow Belgian, Thibaut Courtois, and Manuel Neuer, the legendary Germany international who revolutionised the way which modern goalkeepers play.

“My inspirations when I got older and became a goalkeeper were Manuel Neuer or Thibaut Courtois, the same nationality, so you look up to them a lot.”

Lammens made more saves – 173 – than any other goalkeeper in Europe’s major leagues last season and the most goals prevented in the Jupiler Pro League.

He also topped Belgium’s first division for most progressive passes, most possessions won and most interceptions by a goalkeeper, demonstrating the full breadth of his skillset.

Lammens remains humble, however, revealing Antwerp gave him the perfect platform to “show” his potential as a goalkeeper.

“You have to have a team where you can show yourself. I think that was a perfect step for me to go to Antwerp and to start playing there. It’s a high level but you also get to show yourself, you have a lot of work in goal.

“Last season was a little bit of everything coming together, every single piece falling together, so if you see the stats, it’s what I’ve worked for my entire life, so it’s really nice last season that I could show myself to the outside world.”

With neither of United’s senior ‘keepers – Andre Onana or Altay Bayindir – having impressed this season, Lammens may get the chance to “show himself” in between the sticks for United as soon as the international break draws to a close.

Featured image Octavio Passos via Getty Images

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