The reasons why Manchester United opted to sign Senne Lammens instead of Emiliano Martinez have been revealed after the Belgian completed a deadline-day move from Royal Antwerp. Following goalkeeping mistakes in three of the opening four matches of the season, it was clear that Ruben Amorim’s side desperately needed a new goalkeeper, and as the window drew to a close there seemed to be only two candidates.
Lammens was a name being linked with United throughout the summer, but with just 24 hours left to go, it seemed as though Martinez was becoming the frontrunner after further negotiations took place with Aston Villa. In the end, despite making clear he wanted to make the move, the Argentine remained at Villa Park as the club opted for the less experienced 23-year-old. The reason behind the decision not to sign the Premier League-proven, two-time Yashin Trophy winner has now been revealed.
Why United Signed Lammens Over Martinez
Emiliano Martinez after being sent off for Aston Villa against Manchester United
According to a report from the BBC, Lammens’ profile as a younger goalkeeper made the decision to complete a deal over Martinez a rather straightforward one. According to sources, while the club’s hierarchy, including chief executive Omar Berrada, appreciate that improvements are needed immediately, they continue to be focused on building towards 'Project 150.'
United are aiming to be back winning Premier League titles by 2028, which coincides with their 150th anniversary, something that was first outlined in 2024. While Martinez would be 35 by that point and possibly on the decline, Lammens could potentially be entering his prime if he settles as well as anticipated in the Premier League, making for a better first-choice goalkeeper come 2028.
A similar thought process was believed to be considered when it came to United's interest in another Aston Villa player. That being 29-year-old Ollie Watkins. Instead, the Red Devils opted to bring in 22-year-old Benjamin Sesko to lead the attack.
It is also claimed that United’s data analysis points towards the fact that Lammens has shone across the board in key areas such as crosses claimed, preventing goals from rebounds, and progressive passes, the latter of which he was found to perform better than any other goalkeeper under the age of 23.
The Mirror has also reported that the cost of the deal to bring the World Cup winner to Manchester was also a prohibiting factor. It is believed Martinez demanded wages of £200,000-per-week, making him one of the top earners. Meanwhile, the transfer fee would've likely been double that of Lammens. And with United wary of PSR implications, the fact they held such a strong interest in the cheaper option made the decision rather straightforward.
While there is respect from the Theatre of Dreams for Martinez, who they appreciate is a Premier League-proven goalkeeper, it has also been noted that they do not think he is perfect by any stretch of the imagination. The fact that he made more errors leading to goals last season than Andre Onana is something the analysts in the north-west are aware of. And while he is deemed to have the personality of a Manchester United goalkeeper, the other factors weighing against him ultimately proved too much to convince the club to go with him over the uncapped Belgian.