Manchester United continue to be linked with moves for Emiliano Martinez and Senne Lammens
Emiliano Martinez
Emiliano Martinez is 'open' to joining Man United(Image: The FA via Getty Images)
Manchester United are pushing to sign a new goalkeeper before the transfer window closes for business on Monday at 7pm. Doubts over Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir have led to Ruben Amorim exploring other options.
Throughout the window, Emiliano Martinez and Senne Lammens have been linked with moves to Old Trafford. A loan offer for Martinez was understood to be rejected previously before their attention turned to Lammens.
Now, with less than 48 hours of the window remaining, United's search for a new number one has taken a number of twists and turns. On Sunday morning, it was suggested that Martinez would be prioritised, with personal terms not believed to be an issue, before other outlets suggested Lammens is the number one target.
Both players are understood to be open to joining the club before the window slams shut. But with contrasting reports, who will United go for? Our writers share their verdict on who they think should be prioritised.
Josh Holland
I actually don't think this is as close as it may seem. United need a goalkeeper who is one of the best, someone who is going to immediately replace Onana and Bayindir. Martinez is that.
Everything that has been said around Lammens points towards him being a competitor for the number one spot. Martinez comes in ready to take the shirt immediately.
The Villa goalkeeper is one of the best at shot-stopping and being a presence inside his box. Too many times has Ruben Amorim been let down by his goalkeeper, and it's a feeling that Unai Emery hasn't had many times with Martinez.
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez(Image: Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images)
His age is a slight concern, but there's nothing stopping him from being the new Edwin van der Sar and drastically improving the numbers.
Kieran King
I think that United need to sign a proven Premier League goalkeeper before Monday's 7pm deadline. It's clear that Bayindir and Onana are both not good enough for the Reds, meaning Amorim's side have got to dip into the market for a new No.1.
While there is no doubt that Senne Lammens is a talent and has a lot of potential, I think that Emiliano Martinez would be the most ideal candidate at this stage. With 197 Premier League appearances under his belt, Martinez has cemented himself as an elite top-flight shot-stopper.
As well as this, Martinez is a World Cup winner and has won the Yashin Trophy in the past two years, and I think he is the right calibre of goalkeeper that United need to target. Even though Martinez is 33 on Tuesday, I still believe United should still sign him, as they need a new 'keeper NOW.
Matthew Abbott
United should prioritise neither Emiliano Martinez nor Senne Lammens and go for Gianluigi Donnarumma. The latter is just years older than Lammens, with the former six months his senior.
Donnarumma seems destined for Manchester City, but it has appeared that way for weeks, and Ederson remains at the club with James Trafford still between the sticks. United appears a better stylistic fit for the Italy international; such are the demands of being Pep Guardiola's goalkeeper.
Wages presumably would be an issue, as they likely are for Martinez, but being able to move on from Onana would offset some of that outlay. Donnarumma could be United's goalkeeper for the next decade, much like David de Gea once was, who also received significant remuneration from the club.
In the long term, signing Martinez for a few seasons before requiring a replacement. Gambling on Lammens and potentially needing an alternative in two years could also become more expensive without even considering the on-pitch impact.
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