Manchester United signed goalkeeper Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp on deadline day, but ex-Red Devils shot-stopper Ben Foster has questioned whether the move was the right one
14:11, 05 Sep 2025
Ruben Amorim
Ruben Amorim has been warned that Senne Lammens won't solve United's goalkeeping woes(Image: UEFA via Getty Images)
Manchester United's deadline day signing of Senne Lammens has been labelled "desperate" following claims that a move for Emi Martinez was tantalisingly close to completion.
The Red Devils secured the Belgian goalkeeper from Royal Antwerp in an £18.2million deal on the final day of the summer transfer window. The move came after serious concerns arose over the form of Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir at the start of this season, with both keepers making costly errors.
Aston Villa's Martinez was also heavily linked with a late switch to Old Trafford after being left out of Unai Emery's squad for their defeat to Crystal Palace last weekend. The Argentinian ultimately remained at Villa Park as United chose Lammens instead.
United fans will be hoping the 23-year-old's arrival will solve the club's persistent goalkeeping problems. However, former Red Devils shot-stopper Ben Foster has questioned whether Lammens can claim the No. 1 jersey.
The ex-England and Wrexham star described the transfer as a "panic buy" and questioned whether United have properly researched their new acquisition.
"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.
Doubts have been raised about Manchester United's signing of Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp(Image: Manchester United/Manchester United via Getty Images)
"I've watched a lot of videos of him 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 shipped just 32 goals in 30 outings for Royal Antwerp in Belgium's top division last campaign, keeping seven clean sheets. The keeper bagged the league's player of the month award twice, pulling off 173 saves during the season.
United head coach Ruben Amorim had previously claimed he was satisfied with his existing goalkeeping options, though efforts to bring in new talent ramped up as the transfer window neared its close. Villa's Martinez had made his eagerness for a move to Old Trafford abundantly clear, yet the switch eventually fell through.
Emi Martinez
Emi Martinez missed out on a move to Man United late in the window(Image: Getty Images)
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Foster - who spent five years at United between 2005 and 2010 - reckons the deal was almost over the line following Emery's frosty reaction when pressed about Martinez's situation last week. He also hinted that club bosses could have wrapped up the transfer if they'd genuinely wanted it, with the 32-year-old now facing 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.
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"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."