"It's difficult to be a Manchester United goalkeeper at the moment."
One of Ruben Amorim's final statements before the international break encapsulates an issue that will be the focus of attention at United's Carrington training complex ahead of the Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium this weekend. Following their 3-2 win over Burnley, United paid £18m to sign 23-year-old Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp, preferring him over World Cup winner Emiliano Martinez from Aston Villa.
They have also been working on a deal with Turkish club Trabzonspor that would allow Andre Onana, who cost £47m when he was signed from Inter two years ago, to leave on loan. That means Amorim will have to stick with Turkey's number two goalkeeper, Altay Bayindir, who has started every Premier League game this season but has made big mistakes that have cost him goals.
But according to some, the view that Andre Onana is not good enough is wrong. Edwin van der Sar watched him closely for three years when he was Ajax chief executive. He was excited about Onana's move to United and continued to support him after a disappointing season. Onana himself has spoken about his arrival at United, saying:
"I arrived as the best goalkeeper in the world and boom, everything fell apart."
Part of the reason was his mistakes on his debut at Old Trafford, where he was punished for a mistake that resulted in a goal for the opposing team. Amorim seems to feel he needs a new goalkeeper and Andre Onana is the one he has decided to leave behind. United's explanation for choosing Lammens over Martinez is that they want someone who will play a central role in their team for the next three or four years. However, the pressure on United's goalkeepers remains high.
