Aston Villa and Manchester United were closely linked on transfer deadline day.
Emiliano Martinez hoped to join Manchester United as the Argentine aimed to leave Villa Park, but ultimately, the only transaction between Aston Villa and the Red Devils was a loan deal for Jadon Sancho.
Manchester United also sealed an agreement with Royal Antwerp for the signing of Senne Lammens – although HLN claim Aston Villa actually made a more attractive financial offer.
Aston Villa outbid Manchester United for Senne Lammens
The Belgian news outlet believe Aston Villa offered to pay €25m (£21.7m) upfront to the Pro League outfit and bonuses too.
Those at Villa Park believed Martinez – who waited for Manchester United to call – was leaving, and acted promptly to line up a deal for the Belgium U21 international.
However, HLN state that Manchester United decided Lammens was the glovesman they wanted on the morning of deadline day, and a deal worth €22m (£19.1m) plus €3m (£2.6m) in bonus payments was agreed whilst the Belgian was in the air on his way to Old Trafford.
Of course, that is the same £21.7m fee Aston Villa bid, but the Villans offered a lump sum payment, whereas HLN claim Manchester United are only paying a guaranteed £19.1m sum in comparison.
Lammens – who Thibaut Courtois called a “huge talent” – kept ten clean sheets in 44 appearances across all competitions last season, and is a welcome addition for Ruben Amorim amidst something of a goalkeeping crisis at Manchester United.
Manchester United were right to choose Senne Lammens over Emiliano Martinez
Despite the fact Rio Ferdinand wanted Martinez over Lammens, we feel Manchester United made the correct decision.
The Argentina international is believed to earn around £200,000-a-week at Villa Park and also just turned 33.
This makes Martinez a similar profile to the likes of Casemiro, who arrived at Old Trafford from Real Madrid at the age of 30 on a deal worth £350,000-a-week, but has not helped to take the club forward.
However, Lammens, who loves Manchester United, is a 23-year-old on a modest salary having come from Belgian football, and also hungry to prove himself, whereas Martinez is already established and therefore potentially lacking this hunger.
Hopefully, the young Belgian can help Manchester United forget about the struggles of Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir.