Manchester United Goalkeeping Crisis: Onana Out, Lammens, Bayindir in Spotlight

Posted : 08 September 2025

Ruben Amorim’s remark that “it is hard to be a Manchester United goalkeeper right now” reflects the mounting pressure at the club, a situation that will come under the microscope this week as United prepares for the Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium.

Since the comment, United have invested £18 million in 23-year-old Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp, prioritizing him over Aston Villa’s World Cup winner Emiliano Martinez. Meanwhile, the club is negotiating a loan exit for Andre Onana, who cost £47 million when signed from Inter Milan two years ago. This leaves Amorim with a choice: continue with Turkey’s second-choice goalkeeper Altay Bayindir, hand Lammens a challenging debut, or risk further scrutiny.

Bayindir has started all three Premier League games this season but has already made errors that led to goals against Arsenal and Burnley, while also appearing uncertain against Fulham and Manchester City. Any mistake in the upcoming derby is likely to be heavily criticized.

The struggles of Onana are more complex than simply labeling him as underperforming. Edwin van der Sar, who observed Onana closely at Ajax, has long regarded him as a top-class goalkeeper. Even after a challenging first season at United, Van der Sar remained supportive. Onana himself has spoken about the difficulty of his transition, saying he arrived at United at the top of his game only to face immediate challenges.

Sources indicate Onana’s decline in confidence was partly tactical. Brought in for his ability to play short passes, he was instead required to adapt to a style that favored long distribution. A notable error during his Old Trafford debut, where a misplaced pass led to a 50-yard goal against him, set the tone for ongoing mistakes.

Manager Erik ten Hag initially backed Onana, even at the expense of David de Gea, but subsequent missteps and public criticism—most notably from former teammate Nemanja Matic before a Europa League match against Lyon—undermined his position. Onana’s errors in the first leg, combined with internal shifts, allowed Bayindir to take Premier League duties and eventually led to Lammens joining the squad as a potential alternative.

Onana’s only recent appearance came in a Carabao Cup loss to League Two side Grimsby, where he was again at fault for a goal. United’s decision to bring in Lammens and allow Onana to leave on loan signals a clear shift in strategy, leaving Bayindir and the young Belgian to navigate a high-pressure environment as the season continues.

Manchester United Goalkeeping Crisis: Onana Out, Lammens, Bayindir in Spotlight

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