Manchester United signed Antwerp goalkeeper Senne Lammens for £18.2m on transfer deadline day after being linked with Emi Martinez, with the move branded as a "panic buy"
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim looks on
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has been warned that Senne Lammens won't solve his goalkeeping woes
(Image: Getty Images)
Manchester United's deadline day swoop for Senne Lammens has been labelled as "desperate" after claims a move for Emi Martinez was close to happening.
The Red Devils signed Belgian goalkeeper Lammens from Royal Antwerp in an £18.2million deal on the final day of the summer transfer window. It followed concerns being raised about the performances of Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir at the start of this season after some high-profile errors.
Aston Villa shot-stopper Martinez was also heavily linked with a late switch to Old Trafford after being left out of Unai Emery's squad for their defeat against Crystal Palace last weekend. Martinez ultimately remained at Villa Park as United brought in Lammens instead.
United fans will be hoping the 23-year-old's arrival will bring an end to the club's long-standing problems between the sticks. However, former Red Devils keeper Ben Foster has raised major doubts over whether Lammens is up to the task of claiming the No.1 spot.
The ex-England and Wrexham star described the deal as a "panic buy" and questioned whether United have carried out due diligence on their new recruit. His fears echo those highlighted by Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer, who questioned Lammens' abilities.
"Being a goalkeeper for United is the hardest goalkeeping position to play in world football," Foster said on his Fozcast podcast. "You need someone with broad shoulders.
Senne Lammens of Manchester United poses after signing for the club at Carrington Training Ground on September 01, 2025 in Manchester, England.
Concerns have been raised over whether Senne Lammens is capable of being Man United's No.1
"I've watched a lot of videos of him [Lammens] on YouTube…and he looks on the eye test like he's a competent goalkeeper. I'm yet to see what he's like with the ball at his feet though and I think he's a panic buy.
"United have probably always got some sort of list of goalkeepers that they look at and they keep tabs on. There will be scouts all over the world…but I don't think they've done an in-depth analysis. A deadline day goalkeeper signing tells me that your club is desperate."
Lammens only let in 32 goals in 30 outings for Royal Antwerp in the Belgian Pro League last season, also keeping seven clean sheets. He received the league's player of the month award twice, pulling off 173 saves during the campaign.
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez was in talks to join Manchester United on transfer deadline day
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez was linked with a move to Manchester United on transfer deadline day
United head coach Ruben Amorim previously declared himself happy with his existing goalkeepers, but efforts to bring in a new face gathered pace towards the end of the window. Villa's Martinez made it clear that he wanted a move to the Red Devils, but a deal for the Argentine failed to materialise.
However, Foster, who spent five years with United between 2005 and 2010, thinks it was close to happening after Emery gave a frosty interview on Martinez's situation last week. He also claimed that club officials could have pulled the signing off if they really wanted to as the 32-year-old now faces an awkward return to Villa after the international break.
Foster said: "The fact that he missed Aston Villa's game the other night tells me that a deal was very close. It could be a million things [that went wrong]. It could be a medical issue, it could be a wages issue, it could be the transfer fee between the two clubs.
"None of us know what it is yet but I think that any of that could have been overcome. It's going to be interesting to see what happens to Emi Martinez now, though.
"If he doesn't get a move anywhere, then he's going to have to go back to Aston Villa. You saw the interview with Unai Emery before the game the other day and he wouldn't talk about him one little bit."
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