Former Manchester United assistant coach Rene Meulensteen has claimed the club missed a key opportunity by not signing 2026 FIFA World Cup winner Unai Simon during the summer transfer window. Meulensteen's comments come after United's 2-2 draw with Everton where new goalkeeper Senne Lammens was beaten at his near post by Tyrique George.
Manchester United currently sit 11th in the Premier League with four points from three games, having won one, drawn one and lost one. Their next challenge is a huge home clash against league leaders Manchester City on Sunday, 13th September, a match where they trail their rivals by five points in the table.
Why did Meulensteen criticize United's goalkeeper choice?
Rene Meulensteen, who worked under Sir Alex Ferguson, was clear in his assessment. He believes Athletic Bilbao's Unai Simon, who was instrumental in Spain's World Cup triumph, should have been United's primary target. "I thought it would have been a really good bet to get him, I would have gone for Unai Simon from Athletic Bilbao," Meulensteen said. "He was so impressive, for me, and we played him in a friendly with Iraq and he was so impressive throughout that whole World Cup campaign of Spain."
Meulensteen argued that Simon possesses a commanding presence and more consistent performance levels than Senne Lammens, the 24-year-old Belgian signed last summer as a replacement for Andre Onana. Lammens has become United's first-choice keeper but his mistake against Everton has brought scrutiny. The team's defensive record shows they have conceded six goals while scoring seven in the league so far, giving them a +1 goal difference. You can see the full defensive statistics on our stats page.
What is the current situation in United's attack?
The debate over squad selection extends beyond the goalkeeper. Club legend Paul Scholes has urged manager Erik ten Hag to start Benjamin Sesko ahead of Matheus Cunha for the upcoming Manchester derby. Scholes made his comments on the podcast 'The Good, The Bad and The Football'.
"He [Sesko] is a focal point," Scholes said. "It is very difficult to watch a Manchester United team without a centre forward." This highlights a tactical dilemma as United prepare for a critical period in their fixtures.
How does this affect United's immediate schedule?
Manchester United face a demanding week, beginning with their UEFA Champions League debut against Sabah on Thursday, 10th September. That is followed just three days later by the Premier League showdown with Manchester City at Old Trafford. The derby represents a major test for Ten Hag's side, who need a positive result to close the gap at the top of the standings.
The calls from Meulensteen and Scholes reflect wider concerns about the squad's construction following the summer window. While Lammens has been installed as the number one, the argument for a more experienced, trophy-winning goalkeeper like Simon persists. Similarly, the search for a reliable central striker continues to be a talking point among pundits and fans.
United's management will be hoping their current selections justify the faith placed in them during a packed September schedule. The team travels to face Sabah in Europe before returning to host the league leaders in a match that could define their early season trajectory. The full squad available for these games is listed on our squad page. Manchester United play Manchester City at home on Sunday, 13th September 2026.
