Paul Scholes Questions Senne Lammens’ Manchester United Credentials — ‘The Jury’s Probably Still Out’

Paul Scholes has raised a key question over Manchester United’s rebuild, admitting it remains unclear whether Senne Lammens can become the “top-class” goalkeeper the club may need to challenge for the Premier League title again.

United have not won the domestic crown since Sir Alex Ferguson stepped down in 2013. Michael Carrick is now tasked with building on last season’s third-place finish, having guided the club back into the Champions League after a difficult period.

Scholes believes United are rebuilding in stages, with their attack addressed last season and the midfield reshaped during the latest summer transfer window. He expects the defence to become the next major focus.

“It looks like they did the midfield this year and it feels like the defence will probably come next year,” Scholes told The Good, The Bad & The Football.

“At this moment in time, defensively, they’re always going to concede goals in that team.”

Lammens Has More To Prove

Lammens has impressed since joining United last summer and has emerged as an upgrade on Andre Onana in goal.

But Scholes believes it is still too early to know whether the Belgian can ultimately perform at the level required by a genuine title contender.

“What team have you seen win the Premier League without a top class goalkeeper?” he said.

“Lammens might be that, I don’t know, I think the jury’s probably still out on that. Then you build from the back four.”

Scholes pointed to some of the goalkeepers who have played key roles in recent title-winning sides, including Alisson at Liverpool and David Raya at Arsenal, as well as the goalkeepers Manchester City have relied upon.

He also looked back at United’s own history, highlighting the importance of Peter Schmeichel and Edwin van der Sar during successful eras at Old Trafford.

‘You Start From The Back’

Scholes believes United’s rebuilding process still has several stages to complete.

“They sorted the forwards out last year and the forwards look alight,” he said, while adding that the club may still need a top-class centre-forward and remains uncertain about how much confidence they have in Benjamin Sesko.

For Scholes, however, the bigger question could eventually be at the other end of the pitch.

“You need a top class goalkeeper,” he said, pointing to the examples of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City.

“They’ve all got brilliant, brilliant goalkeepers. You start from the back, of course you do.”

For Lammens, that leaves a clear challenge ahead. His performances have already changed the conversation around United’s goalkeeping position, but Scholes believes only time will show whether he can become the final piece of the defensive foundation required for another title challenge.