Manchester United were widely praised for their transfer business last summer but Liverpool legend Steve Nicol believes one of Ruben Amorim’s signings is ‘bang average’.
United backed Amorim in the summer transfer window despite a woeful 15th-place Premier League finish, spending over £200m on four players.
Bryan Mbeumo arrived from Brentford, Matheus Cunha from Wolves, Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig and Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp.
£65m signing Mbeumo has been the pick of the bunch so far, scoring seven goals in all competitions, while Cunha has shown glimpses of the form that earned him a £62.5m move to Old Trafford.
Sesko was signed to solve United’s goalscoring issues but has endured a more underwhelming start to his Red Devils career with just two goals so far this season.
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Lammens, meanwhile, has had a mixed few months at United, quickly establishing himself as Amorim’s No. 1 but conceding 15 goals in his ten appearances.
Four of those came in an entertaining but ultimately frustrating 4-4 draw with Bournemouth on Monday night and Nicol felt that game was further proof of Lammens’ shortcomings.
‘Manchester United are poor in the middle of the park,’ Nicol told ESPN. ‘That midfield isn’t stopping anybody whether it be Bournemouth or anyone else.
‘Looking at Lammens, he’s an okay goalkeeper. I don’t remember him making a real save since he started in goal for United. There’s not one save you go, “wow, how did he stop that?”
‘Both goalies in that game were just bang average. He made one save with his feet that if he stood his ground he would have just caught.
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‘I’m not saying he’s United’s biggest problem but when you need a save, I’m sorry, but I don’t think this guy makes it.’
Lammens made 64 appearances for Belgian top-flight club Antwerp before being signed by Manchester United in a deal worth an initial £18.2m.
While Liverpool’s four-time title winner Nicol has concerns with Lammens, Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson has previously praised the Belgian.
‘The manager [Ruben Amorim] has had some good signs,’ Ferguson told Raceday RTV last month.
‘Particularly the goalkeeper has been outstanding, he’s only played three or four games and he’s looking really good.’
Responding to Fergie’s comments, Lammens said: ‘I read it somewhere and, at first, I couldn’t really believe it, to be honest.
‘He is such a big name and especially at this club, so I was a little bit surprised, but it felt really, really good, to be honest. I haven’t met him yet, so I’m looking forward to that as well.
‘But coming from him, yeah, it’s really nice to hear as well, someone with so much experience and such a big name at this club. It’s only good to hear.’
Ex-Manchester United goalkeeper Mark Bosnich has also been impressed by Lammens and believes he will be the club’s ‘long term’ shot-stopper and possible ‘the foundation’ of a title-winning side.
Amorim’s United are sixth in the Premier League after the 4-4 draw with Bournemouth and face in-form title challengers Aston Villa this weekend.
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