Manchester United’s transfer window has received a second wind after sanctioning the exits of Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho.
Alejandro Garnacho has netted them £40m, while Rasmus Hojlund’s immediate loan fee is £5.2 million, with an option-turned-obligation next season for about £44 million.
That’s effectively £85 million in the bank, and if they manage to shift Jadon Sancho, Antony, and Tyrell Malacia as well, the stage will be set for an audacious end to the window.
It seems like United are already preparing to do that, with Fabrizio Romano reporting that they’ve revived interest in the Premier League star who is exactly what they need.
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Man Utd revive interest in Emi Martinez
The midfield at United remains a problem, but if the first four games have shown anything, it is that not upgrading the goalkeeper will cost United more direct points.
Therefore, United have been in talks with Senne Lammens, which were progressing quickly earlier but hit a snag recently.
With the goalkeeping situation of the highest priority, Fabrizio Romano reports that United have made new contact for Emi Martinez with Aston Villa.
🚨 EXCL: Manchester United make new approach with Aston Villa for Emiliano ‘Dibu’ Martínez.
Talks remain ongoing for Senne Lammens while Man United want to be ready if deal collapses with less than 48h to go…
…and new approach for Dibu took place with Villa + his camp. pic.twitter.com/AMzKtH7iys
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 31, 2025
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United had a loan bid for Martinez rejected earlier in the window, with Villa preferring to sell him permanently instead.
United didn’t find the asking price to be palatable at the time, but are trying their luck again, hoping the deadline pushes Villa into softening their stance.
Martinez’s stance has always been clear. He would love to come to Old Trafford, and with United going back in for him, he could push as well.
Emi Martinez could be the perfect bridge
As exciting a signing as Senne Lammens will be, there are a couple of red flags that United might think they can’t afford to ignore.
The jump from the Belgian League to England is huge, and he will walk into a team that is low on confidence as well.
Lammens is a more long-term bet, but United need someone who is a plug-and-play choice.
More importantly, they need someone who relishes the spotlight and has the mentality to succeed at Man Utd, where the glare is intense.
Martinez has repeatedly shown that he fits the bill, sometimes at the detriment of United as well, which most fans know.
Furthermore, with United having exciting goalkeeping talent in their ranks in the form of Radek Vitek and Elyh Harrison, Martinez presents the perfect bridge to take United from the current era to the next one, when Vitek will be ready.
Lammens’ signing can be revisited, if possible, in January or next summer. For now, Martinez is the safer bet on the basis of his intangibles alone.
United need to go back to the days of their goalkeeper being a madman. Handling the scrutiny is as important a part of that job as handling the ball.