Senne Lammens is a rare sight – a genuine Manchester United bargain.
Do you remember the Sir Alex Ferguson era, when United used to sign top class players for bargain fees?
Yes, there were big spends on Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand, but there were notable cut-price additions like Patrice Evra and Nemanja Vidic, and even better when you go further back into the 1990s.
Peter Schmeichel, Denis Irwin and Eric Cantona cost less than £4 million combined. Even in context of the fees of their era, it was remarkably good business.
United’s ability to spot a bargain has been lost in the post-Ferguson era, ever since Ed Woodward publicly declared he would pay anything to sign a player.
We feared the days of Manchester United bargains had long gone – until Senne Lammens was snapped up on deadline day.
Lammens has established himself as United’s true first choice goalkeeper, and one of the best in the Premier League. To put the deal in context, you need only look at how rival clubs have missed the mark with goalkeeper deals.
Senne Lammens applauds during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Manchester United at London Stadium in 2026 in London, England.
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
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Senne Lammens bargain in context
Senne Lammens cost Manchester United only £18 million. For a deal struck in 2025, this constitutes a bargain.
Two years earlier United blew £43 million to sign Andre Onana. The goalkeeper is currently out on loan, and will be sold for a fraction of the fee this summer.
It is also noteworthy how rival clubs have spent big on goalkeepers recently, and the deals are shown up by Lammens’ success.
Manchester City splashed £31 million to sign James Trafford. After an error-hit start to the season, they decided to sign Gianluigi Buffon instead.
City’s £26 million move for Gianluigi Donnarumma was praised at first, but he is far from perfect and his wages eclipse Lammens’ earnings. The Manchester United goalkeeper is the more cost-effective option.
Liverpool paid £30 million to sign Giorgi Mamardashvili in 2024. He is an expensive back-up to Alisson, and he has not been impressive when he has played.
Chelsea spent £17 million to sign Mike Penders from Genk. He has been sent out on loan to Strasbourg.
The 20-year-old may turn into a Lammens-esque bargain. But right now they would have been better off paying the same fee to actually sign Lammens from Royal Antwerp instead – who is better than any of their current options.
One of Chelsea’s options is Filip Jorgensen, who made errors in the Champions League in midweek. They paid £20 million for him.
What Paul Scholes said about Senne Lammens before he made his Man Utd debut
“What’s the price? 20 million Euros, that tells me he’s not a top goalkeeper.”
Paul Scholes in September 2025
Former Manchester United and England midfielder Paul Scholes before the Europa League match between Manchester United and Lyon at Old Trafford in 2025 in Manchester, England.
Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Celebrate Lammens success
The reason we want to shout about the Senne Lammens deal is because it is so rare that United sign a top player for a bargain price.
The club’s trio of attacking signings have all worked out, but Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha all cost in excess of £60 million.
It is unsustainable to have to pay this amount for every player the club want to recruit.
Lammens breaks the mould, and shows that it can still be done. Paul Scholes wrote him off before he had played a game due to his low fee.
The Belgian’s success might make doubters think twice in future.
Just because Manchester United haven’t signed a bargain probably since Scholes was still playing, doesn’t mean that it can’t be done.
And the ways rival clubs have wasted money on more costly goalkeepers only serves to
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