Manchester United plans to unveil Lammens this Saturday! Reasons for changing transfer strategy revealed, Onana is unpopular

Manchester United is certain to bring in another new player late in the summer transfer window, with 23-year-old Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens having accepted the move. The club is finalizing talks over the fee with Royal Antwerp, who demand €25 million.

It is reported that Manchester United aims to officially announce Lammens' transfer before the weekend, and he might even make his debut at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon before the Premier League match against Burnley, similar to what happened with Shevchenko before. Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano confirmed that negotiations between the clubs are very advanced and the player has already agreed to terms.

Romano said: "Lammens has accepted a long-term contract with Manchester United, and his salary is significantly lower than the rumored demands of Donnarumma from PSG or Emiliano Martinez from Aston Villa, which might explain why United chose to sign him instead of those two."

He explained the final issues still to be resolved in the negotiations: "Lammens wants to move to Manchester United, which is why he was left out of Antwerp's squad this weekend. What will happen next? Talks between the two clubs are progressing quickly, with an initial transfer fee around €17 million plus add-ons, leading to a final agreement near €20 million."

"However, Antwerp is aiming to raise the price to €25 million to close the deal. The valuation gap isn't large, especially since Lammens is eager to join the Red Devils under Amolin and fulfill his dream. All parties expect an agreement before the deadline."

According to "Jingji Net," Manchester United originally planned to sign a new goalkeeper only if either André Onana or Altay Bayındır left the club. However, after conceding points due to goalkeeping weaknesses early in the Premier League season, Amolin requested an early goalkeeper reinforcement, which was approved by the club’s management.

Laurie Whitwell revealed that everyone at Manchester United, from Amolin to the executives at Inrix, recognizes the urgent need to address the goalkeeper situation. This urgency is no surprise, as even ordinary fans can sense it; both Onana and Bayındır have their issues, and given their ages, no fundamental change is likely to occur.

He analyzed: "This represents a shift and development for Manchester United. Onana has not been sold, and I expect him to stay this summer. However, United decided to bring in a goalkeeper because Amolin and all the top management, including Sir Jim Ratcliffe, believe this issue needs solving. I think they decided to sign a goalkeeper they have been monitoring to see if his arrival can push Onana to improve or if Lammens might become the first choice."

Ideally, the arrival of the Belgian keeper could motivate Onana to raise his level, as he will face stronger competition for the starting spot. If Onana wants to keep the number one jersey, he must consistently perform well. Manchester United also sees acquiring Lammens as a low-cost move that won't disrupt the club’s wage structure.

Onana, a Cameroon international, will need to leave at the end of the year to participate in the Africa Cup of Nations, which is another key reason United decided to buy a new goalkeeper directly. Additionally, former Italian goalkeeper Antonio Fontana pointed out that Onana is "unpopular" among teammates because he likes to show off and seek attention.