Behind all the talking points, there’s a very clear Manchester United making very brave strategic moves on the pitch. Off the pitch, the club prepares for its annual pre-season USA tour. Manager Ruben Amorim has already said a number of headline acts will not make the tour. The prospective signing gives a better insight into Manchester United’s long-term strategy than it does an immediate need for a new first-choice goalkeeper.
In a recent press conference, Amorim confirmed that Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho, Tyrell Malacia and Antony will miss the pre-season tour. This controversial decision has made waves across the world of football. This decision does cast doubt on the team’s on-field preparedness for the start of the season with several key contributors expected to stay on quarantine.
Transfer Talks for Lammens
Senne Lammens moved to Royal Antwerp from Club Brugge two years ago. Now, he has emerged as a target for Manchester United. At least on the surface, those talks between the two clubs seem to be progressing. According to reports, they are now looking at a fee upwards of £17.3 million. Negotiations over the shape of this deal are reportedly still ongoing. If finished, it would ultimately provide almost a 100 percent return on investment for Royal Antwerp.
Lammens’ potential move aligns with Manchester United’s goal of forward planning in their transfer strategy. Amorim added that the club considers this acquisition to be a long-term investment. They’re not looking at it as an emergency replacement for the existing goalkeepers.
“It’s not an idea that ‘these players are going to leave and then we’ll receive another player’. We don’t know what is going to happen but we are not waiting to take out someone to bring another player in.” – Ruben Amorim
Current Squad Dynamics
As Manchester United navigates its transfer plans, Amorim addressed inquiries regarding whether the club needs to sell players before making new signings. To calm concerned fans, he confirmed that their transfer strategy would not be based on selling current stars to fund the new signings. This statement is likely meant to soothe fears over the team’s roster-building decisions as they gear up for their last season in Indy.
Just because one thing isn’t to blame doesn’t mean the other is. The people you’re discussing are not people that are training with the squad in this very second. It is true that the future operational business plans of the team to acquire players does not preclude the lack of mentioned players, Amorim said, clarifying.
Despite the constant chatter with Lammens still in the room, no bid has come in for 2023-24 goalkeepers Andre Onana or Altay Bayindir. Manchester United remains aware that Onana may be unavailable during the Africa Cup of Nations scheduled for December and January.
Looking Ahead
As Manchester United works to reinvent and redefine its roster, the priority needs to be about performance and results above all else. Amorim highlighted his commitment to winning upcoming matches without being overly concerned about transfer outcomes.
Jason Wilcox, who oversees Manchester United’s transfer initiatives, will play a critical role in shaping the team’s future as they aim to bolster their squad. The club’s commitment to moving for the future shows long-term discipline and a smart strategy to coalesce a competitive squad.
Leave a Reply