Manchester United Transfer Plan Revealed: How Senne Lammens Became First-Choice Goalkeeper After Late Decision

Manchester United’s goalkeeping story this season has taken a dramatic and unexpected turn, with Senne Lammens emerging as the club’s clear first-choice goalkeeper far earlier than anyone had planned.

When the Belgian arrived at Old Trafford from Royal Antwerp on September 1 in a deal worth just over £18 million, few imagined he would so quickly become such a central figure. At just 23 years old, with no prior experience at the very top level and without a senior Belgium cap at the time, Lammens looked like a signing for the future rather than the present.

However, according to his agent, Mark Volders, Manchester United’s original plan changed dramatically at the very end of the summer transfer window.

United’s original plan revealed

Speaking to Belgian outlet HBVL, Volders revealed that United had initially intended to keep Andre Onana as their number one goalkeeper, allowing Lammens time to settle, learn, and slowly adapt to the pressures of playing for one of the biggest clubs in world football.

“For a long time, the intention within United was for Onana to stay and for Senne to be given time to adjust,” Volders explained.

That plan made sense on paper. Onana was vastly more experienced, had already played at the highest level in European football, and was expected to lead from the back while Ruben Amorim worked to stabilise a struggling team.

But football moves fast. Onana’s late exit to Trabzonspor forced United into a rethink. Altay Bayindir was handed opportunities, but it quickly became clear that the coaching staff saw something special in Lammens. Within weeks, the Belgian had taken over the gloves — and he has not let them go since.

“Ultimately, they changed their tune right at the very end,” Volders added. “Onana left, and they fully embraced Senne. In hindsight, you can only say that United was right about that.”

Early doubts and big-name expectations

Despite Lammens’ steady performances, his arrival was met with scepticism. Many fans and pundits expected Manchester United to replace Onana with a world-famous name rather than a relatively unknown young goalkeeper from Belgium.

Volders believes this is where much of the criticism came from.

“The big problem was that people expected a very well-known name, like Gianluigi Donnarumma or Emiliano Martínez,” he said.

That view was echoed by club legend Peter Schmeichel, who admitted he was unfamiliar with Lammens when the links first emerged. Schmeichel openly questioned whether a young goalkeeper was the right choice for a club under pressure.

“We should have signed Emi Martínez,” Schmeichel said earlier in the season. “Or gone for Gianluigi Donnarumma when we had the chance.”

He also pointed out that while Lammens’ statistics were impressive, numbers alone do not tell the full story.

“Stats don’t show how you react after a mistake, or how you cope with the pressure of Manchester United,” Schmeichel explained. “That pressure is unlike anywhere else in football.”

At the time, Schmeichel described the move as a gamble, suggesting that a “hopeful” signing was not what Amorim needed during a difficult period.

From doubt to trust

Fast forward a few months, and the story has shifted. Lammens is now a full Belgium international and has grown in confidence with every appearance. More importantly, he has brought calm to a defence that had often looked nervous and unsure.

Schmeichel himself has since changed his stance, praising the young goalkeeper’s presence and maturity.

“He’s come in and there’s calm at the back four,” Schmeichel said on ViaPlay. “There’s not this chaos where they don’t want to pass the ball back. They trust him.”

That trust is vital. United’s defenders now look more comfortable building from the back, knowing Lammens is confident with the ball at his feet. His quick decision-making has also impressed, with his ability to launch counter-attacks through fast throws or long kicks adding a new edge to United’s play.

“He’s not afraid of turning defence into attack very quickly,” Schmeichel added.

A decision that could define the season

For Ruben Amorim, the late decision to fully back Lammens may prove to be one of the most important calls of his tenure so far. While United still face inconsistency in results, the goalkeeper position — often a source of stress in recent seasons — now feels settled.

Lammens’ rise also highlights a broader shift in United’s thinking: backing potential over reputation. While fans often crave big names, United’s gamble on a young, hungry goalkeeper appears to be paying off.

There will still be tough moments ahead. Mistakes are inevitable, especially for a player so early in his career. But so far, Lammens has shown composure beyond his years, handling pressure that many doubted he could manage.

In a season full of uncertainty, Manchester United may have stumbled upon one of their smartest decisions — not by long-term design, but by bold action when plans changed at the last moment.