 "Manchester United slammed over 'panic buy' on transfer deadline day: 'Don't think they've done an in-depth analysis'")
Manchester United’s last-minute acquisition of Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens on the summer transfer window deadline day on Monday has been labelled a “desperate” move amid claims of the Red Devils being close to signing the vastly more experienced Emiliano Martinez.
After spending over £200 million on upgrading their attack, United were left needing a goalkeeper towards the end of the transfer window, especially after Altay Bayindir and Andre Onana’s error-strewn performances in the opening games of the 2025-26 season.
And while the likes of Aston Villa’s Argentine keeper Martinez and Paris Saint-Germain’s Gianluigi Donnarumma were linked to a move to Old Trafford, Ruben Amorim’s side eventually settled on 23-year-old Lammens, signing him for £18 million from Belgian top-flight club Royal Antwerp.
Martinez, thus, remains part of Villa while Italian keeper Donnarumma has joined cross-town rivals Manchester City for a reported fee of £26 million.
As for Lammens, there are questions already being raised on whether the youngster – who has made 64 appearances for Royal Antwerp and is yet to make a debut for Belgium at the senior level – can handle the pressure at Old Trafford.
Putting pen to paper ✍️
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‘You need someone with broad shoulders’
Former United keeper Ben Foster, however, has his doubts, mirroring similar sentiments from English football icons Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer.
“Being a goalkeeper for United is the hardest goalkeeping position to play in world football. You need someone with broad shoulders,” Foster, who was part of the United squad from 2005 to 2010, said on his Fozcast podcast.
“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,” the 42-year-old added.
Also Read | United sets sights on Palace star after splurging more than £200m on summer transfers
United had started their season with a 0-1 loss against Arsenal at home, which was followed by a 1-1 draw at Fulham. The situation for an under-fire Amorim got even more dire after the 20-time English top-flight champions lost to League Two club Grimsby Town in the penalty shootout after playing out a 2-2 draw in their League Cup second-round fixture.
United collected their first win of the season in their most recent appearance, defeating Burnley 3-2 at home on Saturday although the fact that they conceded twice against the newly-promoted side once again highlighted the club’s concerns regarding their defence, particularly their goalkeeping.
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