Former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch has criticised Manchester United for failing to solve what he calls an “obvious issue” in their squad, despite spending nearly £200m on transfers last summer.
United invested heavily in the off-season, bringing in Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and goalkeeper Senne Lammens, yet their form remains alarming. After six league games, the Red Devils sit 14th in the Premier League table, having won only twice. Their latest setback came in a 3-1 defeat at Brentford, a result that further exposed ongoing weaknesses in the team.
Crouch, speaking to TNT Sports, questioned United’s decision-making in the transfer market, highlighting their unsettled goalkeeping situation.
“It feels to me that the situation with the goalkeeper just hasn’t been addressed,” he said.
“It feels like they’ve got three number twos now. It’s an issue that was obvious, Andre Onana wasn’t going to be the No. 1, we knew that at the start of the season but the situation still hasn’t been addressed.
“They brought in Senne Lammens but he’s not starting yet, he’s a young lad who’s only had one full season in football. I don’t know why when you’ve got Donnarumma or Martinez available the situation wasn’t resolved.
“They don’t think Lammens is ready, he’s still a young man so maybe he will be in the future. But United have always had dominant goalkeepers, look at Peter Schmeichel and Edwin van der Sar. With Martinez, it felt obvious for him to come in, he’s dominant and fits the stature and personnel that Manchester United need.”
Manager Ruben Amorim has continued to start Altay Bayindir in goal, leaving Lammens—signed for £18m from Royal Antwerp—still waiting for his debut.
United now turn their attention to a potentially tricky Premier League clash against newly promoted Sunderland, where they will look to halt their poor early-season run.
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