Man United are getting exactly what they need ahead of Champions League return

A lack of games last season, owing to no European football and early exits in the domestic cups, meant Lammens was able to feature across all competitions with little reason to worry about who was backing him up.

However, with a return to the Champions League dawning, United needed to increase their standards. And that is where new signing Karl Darlow comes in.

He ended last season as Leeds' first choice goalkeeper after Daniel Farke became impatient with Lucas Perri. Perceived mistakes against United and Newcastle forced the 49-year-old head coach to bring back Darlow and the Wales international did not disappoint.

The 35-year-old went on to play a pivotal role as Leeds survived relegation. But when the campaign ended, Darlow discovered there was no guarantees he would keep his position and subsequently left on a free transfer.

"Leeds offered him a contract or there were definitely contract talks, and they wanted to keep him," Leeds reporter at Leeds Live, Isaac Johnson told MEN Sport.

"Farke indicated towards the end of the season that he ideally wanted to keep him on. However, they couldn't guarantee him the number one spot. And so I think in his mind, it was a case of, well, do I play back-up at Leeds again, potentially? Or do I be the back-up at Man United where I've got better chances and better wages and all that?

"When Man United came calling and Leeds couldn't offer him a spot, I think it was a pretty easy decision for him to make."

The goalkeeper handled himself well during his time at Elland Road. He was seen as a good figure in the dressing room and that's something Johnson expects him to add to United. The former Nottingham Forest and Newcastle goalkeeper will be the back-up to Senne Lammens. But he will also provide stern competition for the Reds' first choice.

Johnson added: "He comes for crosses, he's bold, he's got great communication. I remember in one of the games that we were covering, you could hear him from the stands.

"He's a very good shot stopper for someone of his age. He's actually quite agile as well. He can get up to shots really quickly. He’s brave when he comes for the ball. He has been known to pull off some quite world class saves, really.

"He is reliable too and I think as an understudy to Lammens, he's perfect. He's like Lammens, but sort of like an older Lammens and perhaps not as good as Lammens either, but he's of the same ilk. So if he [Darlow] comes in as a number two in cup games or if he [Lammens] is injured, then defenders and the team can expect something similar to what Lammens gives Man United already.

"I think for Manchester United, it's a good signing, a solid signing and one that I think Leeds fans are a bit disappointed about."

Darlow's arrival should now spark further changes in the United goalkeeper ranks. Onana has already agreed another loan spell at Trabzonspor for next season while last season's understudy, Altay Bayindir, is set to move back to Turkey. Young goalkeeper Radek Vitek got a taste of regular football at Bristol City last season and it is understood he could depart on loan again.

One of Darlow's first matches for United could be against his old club in Dublin on August 12. And while the Wales international was a free agent when he joined the Reds, Johnson expects the goalkeeper to receive a muted reception.

"There's a lot of anger from some Leeds fans because he's gone to Man United and they're the enemy," he concluded. "He could potentially line up against Leeds in pre-season, if he plays. So that'll be interesting if that happens. I don't think he'll get much applause when he returns to Elland Road, certainly not from the majority anyway."

Click here to read article