In a revealing summer transfer twist, Manchester United intervened to stop their new manager, Ruben Amorim, from pursuing a deal for Aston Villa's Emiliano Martinez, paving the way for the £18 million signing of goalkeeper Senne Lammens.
The Goalkeeping Dilemma
According to a report from The Telegraph, Amorim would have 'likely' pushed to sign World Cup winner Martinez if the club's hierarchy had not already been convinced by an alternative target. The decision was heavily influenced by the persistent lobbying of goalkeeping scout Tony Coton and director of football Jason Wilcox.
It is understood that Coton had been banging the drum for Lammens ‘relentlessly’ to Wilcox for a full 12 months. This, combined with a club-wide policy to prevent over-indulgence in the transfer market, led United to veto a move for the more expensive Martinez and secure the 23-year-old from Royal Antwerp instead.
Lammens: An Instant Hit at Old Trafford
The decision has proven to be an inspired one. Lammens has enjoyed a spectacular start to life at Old Trafford, quickly replacing Andre Onana as the first-choice goalkeeper.
The Belgian shot-stopper played crucial roles in United’s victories against Sunderland, Liverpool, and Brighton. He also produced a series of vital saves in the draws with Nottingham Forest and Tottenham, helping to extend the team's unbeaten Premier League run to five games.
His commanding performances have seen him rapidly become a fan-favourite, with some supporters even drawing comparisons to United legend Peter Schmeichel.
Amorim's Verdict on His New Keeper
Speaking after the 2-2 draw with Tottenham, Amorim was full of praise for his new number one. ‘He’s doing really well,’ Amorim told TNT Sports. ‘He’s very adult, and he understands that in a game, a lot of things can happen, but especially for a goalkeeper, you need to move on from anything that happened in the last minute.'
He added, ‘So it’s like a new game every time the ball is on the pitch. I think [despite being] 23 years old, he understands that quite well.’
Looking Ahead to the January Window
Meanwhile, the club's summer spending, which totalled over £232 million on players including Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, and Benjamin Sesko, appears to have concluded their major business for the time being.
Reports indicate that United are not expected to bring in any new players during the January transfer window. While the club is known to be keen on recruiting a new midfielder, it is thought they will wait until the end of the season to make their move.
The three midfielders currently on United's radar are believed to be Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton.
