Man Utd goalkeeper decision made for Man City clash after Senne Lammens transfer
Ruben Amorim has a choice between new signing Senne Lammens and the unconvincing Altay Bayindir for the Manchester derby on Sunday, with Andre Onana expected to depart on a season-long loan
As we look ahead to Sunday's Manchester derby, both camps have a goalkeeping dilemma. Both Mancunian clubs brought in new shot-stoppers on transfer deadline day, signalling their shared uncertainty between the posts.
Manchester City signed Gianluigi Donnarumma after striking a £27million deal with Paris Saint-Germain, who decided to cut their losses when the Italian failed to agree a new contract. Over at Manchester United, Senne Lammens arrived for an initial £18.2million plus £3.5million in potential add-ons.
Pep Guardiola will almost certainly install 26-year-old Donnarumma as his new No.1 but for Ruben Amorim, he's got a decision to make. Lammens, 23, comes to the Premier League with everything still to prove, having made his name at Royal Antwerp and impressed Red Devils scouts.
United decided to sign a new goalkeeper in light of Altay Bayindir's shaky start to the season. That was after Amorim made the bold call to put his faith in the Turkey international and drop Andre Onana, who's now set to join Turkish side Trabzonspor on a season-long loan.
So, does Amorim chuck Lammens into a baptism of fire at the Etihad? Does he stick with Bayindir? Or could veteran Tom Heaton even be called upon?
We asked some of Mirror Football's writers to make their pick.
David McDonnell
Ruben Amorim has to start Altay Bayindir in Sunday’s Manchester derby. Throwing new signing Senne Lammens straight into the heat of a derby, for his Premier League debut, is too much of a gamble.
If Amorim did pick Lammens on Sunday and the 23-year-old were to make a costly mistake, the United boss would be criticised for having not given him time to settle in and adapt, after just a handful of training sessions with his new team-mates. Yet Amorim's problem is that Bayindir has not looked convincing this season and was guilty of errors against Arsenal and Burnley.
But the 27-year-old will know what to expect at City, given his greater experience, unlike Lammens. Against that backdrop, Amorim has to go with Bayindir on Sunday, even though Lammens has been signed as United’s future long-term No.1.
Ben Husband
I was at Old Trafford for Andre Onana's Premier League debut. It was obvious from that night what a liability he would become and although he avoided giving away what was the most obvious penalty in history, the dye was cast.
Onana was never able to shrug off that reputation and his confidence was immediately shot. Amorim will be desperate for that not to happen to Lammens, who would face a daunting baptism of fire against City.
But if the alternative is Bayindir, the United boss has no choice to make. If Lammens was the choice over Emi Martinez - he has to be ready straight away.
Bayindir wouldn't start for any other Premier League team. Lammens should prove to be significantly better, but it will still be a nervy Sunday for the debutant.
Which goalkeeper would you start? Let us know your pick in the comments section.
Oli Gamp
It's sink or swim for anyone who plays in goal for Manchester United. Bayindir has already sunk and Heaton has had his chance - so why not give the new boy a go?
Bayindir has been a disaster for United and doesn't even start for Turkey, so he is a no-go as far as I'm concerned. Senne Lammens, meanwhile, hasn't been backed by too many people either.
Many pundits have claimed he is too inexperienced for arguably the most pressurised goalkeeping position in world football. But United have just spent £18m on him and opted to sign him instead of Emiliano Martinez, so they must be pretty confident in their purchase.
We'll never know how good Lammens is until we see him in action against the best teams, so Ruben Amorim should throw him into the deep end. Some of the best goalkeepers have started shaky and grown with confidence (looking at you, David de Gea).
It surely can't get worse than Andre Onana and Bayindir… can it?
Felix Keith
Manchester United have got themselves into a mess of their own making in the goalkeeping department and it is a far from ideal situation this weekend.
While Pep Guardiola will likely have no gripes about throwing Gianluigi Donnarumma into the firing line, given his vast experience of big games, the same can't be said of Ruben Amorim and Senne Lammens, who is 23 and only has played in Belgium (where he isn't considered one of the three best 'keepers in the country).
Tom Heaton is out of the question, so that leaves Altay Bayindir as the most sensible pick in my mind. The Turkey international hasn't been convincing at all, but at least he has trained and played with United's back line before.
His real weakness has come at set pieces and - in theory at least - that isn't one of Man City's big strengths. For me, Bayindir gets the nod simply by default due to the nature of the game and the lack of time on the training ground since deadline day.
Nathan Ridley
For me, it's simple: Senne Lammens should be straight in. Altay Bayindir has already cost United enough points this season and if the Red Devils really believe that Lammens was a better buy than Emiliano Martinez, they should trust him on a big stage like the Etihad two weeks on from his deadline-day move.
Bayindir felt like a bizarre buy from United; he wasn't highly rated at Fenerbahce and Erik ten Hag was reluctant to play him regardless of the competition. I'm glad he got his moment at Arsenal in the FA Cup last season after putting together an excellent string of saves, and he looks a great character to have in the squad, but Bayindir should be watching from the bench on Sunday.
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