Manchester United’s opening to the Premier League season has been anything but smooth, with the team suffering a narrow defeat at home to Arsenal before being held to a frustrating draw against Fulham. These early setbacks have left Ruben Amorim’s squad languishing in 16th place, already trailing behind the perfect starts by Arsenal, Tottenham, and Liverpool.

The team’s lackluster performances have drawn sharp criticism from club legend Rio Ferdinand, who singled out goalkeeper Altay Bayindir for particular scrutiny. Speaking candidly on his YouTube channel, Ferdinand expressed concerns over the new shot-stopper’s composure and reliability. “We look shaky. The goalkeeper doesn’t fill me with massive confidence,” Ferdinand admitted.

Despite acknowledging Bayindir’s impressive save against Joshua King, Ferdinand highlighted persistent issues with the goalkeeper’s decision-making and command during set pieces. He remarked, “But from set pieces, even outside of the goal, he’s coming for things that are 50-50 and he’s not sure. The whole backline doesn’t look good in that area, not just the goalkeeper to be honest with you.”

Ferdinand went on to suggest that Bayindir needs to show more assertiveness and adapt quickly to the physicality of the Premier League. “He [Bayindir] needs to liven up. I know that, definitely. I’ll tell you what I’d do, I’d be getting him out on the pitch every day and smashing balls under the crossbar. He’s got to get used to it, he’s got to get used to contact and work out a way.”

The former United defender also criticized Bayindir’s communication with teammates and his handling of pressure situations. “I don’t think he talks enough, he doesn’t make people aware of what’s going on and then his decision-making in those moments hasn’t been good enough. I don’t think he’s seen enough of that, Declan Rice whipping balls right under his nose. He’s not on his own by the way in lacking a bit of confidence.”

With uncertainty lingering over Bayindir’s place in the starting lineup, Manchester United are reportedly close to finalizing a £17 million transfer for Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp. The Belgian Under-21 international is viewed as a long-term prospect and could soon be competing for the No 1 spot, especially with Andre Onana’s future at the club still uncertain after a turbulent last season.

Lammens, who stands at 6ft 3in, began his senior career with Bruges in 2021 before joining Antwerp and making his Champions League debut against Porto later that year. His arrival could provide crucial depth for United, particularly as Onana is expected to miss part of the season due to Cameroon’s participation in the Africa Cup of Nations in December.

As Amorim faces growing pressure to reverse United’s fortunes, the spotlight will remain firmly on the club’s goalkeeping situation and whether the new signings can bring much-needed stability to the backline.