Manchester United's £18m Goalkeeper Senne Lammens Hailed as Future Club Legend
Former Manchester United star Lee Sharpe has boldly declared that summer signing Senne Lammens possesses all the necessary qualities to become a genuine club legend at Old Trafford. The 23-year-old Belgian goalkeeper joined United late in the transfer window after an £18million deal was finalized with Royal Antwerp.
From Bench to Spotlight
Lammens arrived at Manchester United with a growing reputation as one of Europe's most promising young goalkeepers, but manager Ruben Amorim initially opted to shield the newcomer from the intense pressure of Premier League football. With Andre Onana sent on loan to Trabzonspor and Altay Bayindir proving error-prone, Amorim eventually had no choice but to parachute Lammens into the starting lineup.
The Belgium international has hardly put a foot wrong since his introduction to the first team, enhancing his standing with a man-of-the-match performance in Monday night's crucial 1-0 victory at Everton. This result significantly boosted United's chances of qualifying for next season's Champions League.
Sharpe's Legendary Comparison
Sharpe, who made over 250 appearances for United between 1988 and 1996, expressed his confidence that the Red Devils have finally found a worthy long-term successor to David de Gea. "There's no reason Senne Lammens can't be at Manchester United for the next decade and join those legendary keepers the club have had in the past like Peter Schmeichel," Sharpe told BetBrain.
"He'll only grow in experience, and hopefully Champions League football next season can further that development. He's shown a real calmness that provides reassurance to the defense and the entire team."
Sharpe admitted the signing initially surprised many observers: "It was a shock when he signed as everyone thought that it would be Emi Martinez coming in from Aston Villa. I'd consider Martinez a world-class goalkeeper, so for the club to sign a young, relatively unknown goalkeeper at the time seemed a risk, but he's been fantastic since he joined."
Van der Sar Comparisons Emerge
The former winger drew specific comparisons to another United goalkeeping great: "I can see the similarities with Edwin van der Sar. He's very calm under pressure and his handling in the Everton game was exceptional. There were some tricky saves that he pulled off, and he looked completely safe throughout."
Sharpe particularly praised Lammens' command of his penalty area: "It was carnage in the box at corners, but he was commanding and dominated his area completely. That kind of presence is exactly what United have been missing."
Sesko's Growing Influence
While Lammens made an immediate impact, another summer signing has taken slightly longer to win over the United faithful. Benjamin Sesko, despite largely operating as a super-sub under interim manager Michael Carrick, has scored six goals in his last seven appearances, including the dramatic winner at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium on Monday night.
Sharpe believes the Slovenian striker has a bright future at Old Trafford: "I can see Benjamin Sesko making the centre-forward position at Manchester United his for years to come. He's got unbelievable ability and gets around the pitch well – he left James Tarkowski for dead for his goal against Everton."
"He possesses the aerial ability, the strength, and all the attributes you want in a modern striker, though he may still be a little raw in certain aspects. I think he will be United's number nine for years to come."
The former United star dismissed the "super-sub" label that has followed Sesko: "I think it's a harsh tag to give him, and I don't believe the manager and his staff see him as that long-term. It's simply the role he's playing at this moment in time as he continues to develop and adapt to English football."
Manchester United's recent resurgence has seen them become the only Premier League side unbeaten in 2026, now sitting three points clear of both Chelsea and Liverpool in the race for Champions League qualification.
