In last week's episode of The Devils' Advocate Gaz Drinkwater and The Stretford Paddock's Jay Motty to discussed Manchester United's goalkeeping situation and the recruitment of 23-year-old goalkeeper Senne Lammens on deadline day.

"It was obvious we needed another option because neither Andre Onana or Altay Bayindir have covered themselves in glory," said Motty.

"I know there's a lot of pressure on a young goalkeeper coming in but hopefully he can rise to it because we knew we had to do something

"With Lammens we don't know if he's going to be good enough for Manchester United, but there's every reason to think he's got a chance of that.

"Once you put those gloves on and step up at Old Trafford it is a completely different world and we'll only find out if he's up to it when he makes his debut.

"It might be a baptism of fire if Lammens starts at the Etihad."

'The number one most difficult position in English football is Manchester United's goalkeeper. I think it's the most scrutiny that anybody comes under."

That's what former United captain Gary Neville said last month and, judging by the messages we're getting from you lot, he's not wrong!

Simon Stone
BBC Sport Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United's explanation for choosing Senne Lammens over Aston Villa's World Cup winner Emi Martinez on transfer deadline day is that they wanted someone who will be able to play a central role in their team in three or four years' time, when they hope to be challenging for major honours again.

This theory is solid.

What it ignores is the swirl of noise that gathers when any United keeper makes a mistake.

"To be the number one at United you need to have rhino skin," said Phil Jones, who made 229 appearances in 12 seasons at the club, mostly in defence.

During Jones' time at the club, seven goalkeepers featured in the Premier League - Ben Amos, Anders Lindegaard, David de Gea, Victor Valdes, Sergio Romero, Joel Pereira and Dean Henderson.

"The Manchester United shirt is a heavy one to wear," he said.

"What is absolutely paramount is that the goalkeeper is calm and can deal with certain situations. He needs to be commanding and not be flapping at crosses.

"If a goalkeeper makes a mistake, it becomes infectious very quickly and spreads through the defensive unit. If a goalkeeper made a mistake, it was almost like you couldn't get it out of your system until the next game."

Jordan Butler
BBC Sport journalist

It is easy to see why United opted to sign Lammens on pure data alone.

He excelled in his first full top-flight season as Antwerp qualified for the Uefa Conference League and both his save percentage and passing accuracy were higher than that of Andre Onana in 2024-25.

His underlying numbers are even more impressive and suggest that the Belgian can make an instant impact at Old Trafford during this campaign.

His goals prevented total of 18.4 is outrageous.

Opta calculate this number by subtracting expected goals on target from goals conceded (excluding own goals), meaning Lammens has kept out almost 19 more goals than we would expect from an average goalkeeper.

Put simply, he's a serious shot-stopper.

For context, Crystal Palace's Dean Henderson was the Premier League's most efficient last season for goals prevented with a tally of 4.4.

James Trafford kept a record-equalling 29 Championship clean sheets at Burnley and his total was 12.85.

Image source, Getty Images

Lammens' arrival at Old Trafford comes with the club keen to address obvious problems in their goalkeeping department.

Turkey's Altay Bayindir has made errors in the Premier League and last season's number one Andre Onana was at fault for a goal in their EFL Cup exit to League Two side Grimsby.

Neither have convinced since joining the club in 2023, during the same summer in which United allowed David de Gea to leave as a free agent and sold England international Dean Henderson to Crystal Palace.

The club's current third choice Tom Heaton, 39, has not made a senior appearance for United since 1 February, 2023.

Who should start Sunday's Manchester derby?

We still want to know which deadline day signing you think will make the biggest impact this season.

But who Ruben Amorim should start in goal on Sunday is a big question the Portuguese has to answer, too.

Let us know your thoughts with the Get Involved box at the top of this page.

Umir Irfan
Football tactics correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

When looking at the data, Lammens stands out, with club sources at Manchester United citing key metrics like claimed crosses, shot stopping, and a lack of errors leading to goals as particularly impressive.

Most notably, his shot-stopping numbers are chart-topping. Of all goalkeepers in Europe's top 10 leagues last season, Lammens ranked first for total saves made (173) with a 77.4% save percentage.

Using xG, he was expected to concede 66.4 goals but only let in 48 (excluding own goals) placing him second in Europe for goals prevented, having statistically stopped 18.4 total goals.

Jordan Butler
BBC Sport journalist

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has an interesting call to make this weekend regarding who starts in goal.

It appears a straight choice between Altay Bayindir and new signing Senne Lammens, with former number one Andre Onana set to join Trabzonspor.

Lammens arrived from Antwerp for £18.1m on deadline day could potentially get the nod ahead of Bayindir, who has failed to impress so far this season.

The 23-year-old would become just the sixth player to make their Premier League bow for United in this fixture and the first goalkeeper.

Legendary forward Eric Cantona made his league debut against Manchester City almost 33 years ago and he and Phil Neville are the only two debutants to finish on the winning side.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana is set for a medical with Turkish side Trabzonspor this afternoon.

United and Trabzonspor agreed a loan deal for Onana last week.

The move could be done in time for Onana to make his debut against Fenerbahce on Sunday 14 September.

Staying on the topic of Manchester United, it's time to talk goalkeepers.

Enjoy.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport Manchester United reporter

Manchester United defender Tyrell Malacia is the one remaining member of Ruben Amorim's 'bomb squad' who is yet to find a club.

Turkish club Eyupspor have inquired about the full-back but it is not clear whether Malacia is keen on the switch.

The 26-year-old full-back spent the second half of last season on loan at PSV Eindhoven and is yet to return to the main United group in training.

The Turkish transfer deadline is tomorrow night, as it Greece's.

Serbia remains open until 17 September.

Alexander Isak will be itching to score his first Liverpool as soon as possible but could it come at Turf Moor on Sunday?

The Swede will most likely start among the substitutes but may see the final 15/20 minutes.

For those of you wondering, Isak has played against Burnley twice and netted twice. Will we see a third very soon?

Image source, Getty Images

Simon Stone
BBC Sport Manchester United reporter

Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana will travel to Turkey from Paris today to complete his loan switch to Trabzonspor.

Onana agreed the deal during the international break after United signed Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp for £18.1m.

The Cameroon international had been told during the summer he would be Ruben Amorim's first choice at Old Trafford this season but clearly that situation has changed.

His only appearance so far this season came against Grimsby in the EFL Cup, when he was at fault for the League Two side's second goal in their shock win.

It is not expected Onana will return to the United fold at the end of his loan stint and his exit does mean Amorim won't have to manage the 29-year-old's mid-season departure to the Africa Cup of Nations.