Manchester United were active in the summer transfer market, bringing in the likes of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Šeško to strengthen their attack, while Senne Lammens arrived to replace André Onana in goal.
Ruben Amorim began the season with Altay Bayındır as his first-choice goalkeeper, giving the Turkish international several opportunities. However, it is fair to say that the player failed to justify his manager’s faith, with his performances leaving much to be desired.
Lammens was finally handed his debut against Sunderland last weekend in the Premier League and helped United secure their first clean sheet of the season. The Belgian gave an excellent account of himself, producing several fine saves and impressing with his composure and passing range.
Another one inbetween the posts?
Despite the youngster’s promising display, Amorim reportedly remains keen to add another goalkeeper in January. The Portuguese coach wants to introduce more experience to the position to provide mentorship for Lammens.
According to Fichajes, Manchester United could reignite their interest in Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, having already made an attempt to sign him during the summer window. They ultimately opted for Lammens and were unable to finalise a deal for both players.
United’s interest in Martínez has not faded. The Argentine is known for his strong personality, leadership qualities, and exceptional ability in penalty shootouts. His presence could bring valuable experience to Amorim’s squad.
A natural leader
Martínez is a natural leader, and even if he is not guaranteed to start, his guidance could be instrumental in helping Lammens develop into a more complete goalkeeper. That said, United would need to manage his playing time carefully to keep him motivated.
From what has been seen of Bayındır in recent weeks, he appears short of the standard required to play for Manchester United. Lammens, on the other hand, could well be the club’s long-term solution between the posts. How Martínez might fit into this structure remains to be seen.
Aston Villa are likely to demand a significant fee to part with their number one, particularly in mid-season. However, the emergence of Marco Bizot could make Unai Emery more open to a transfer. It remains to be seen whether Martínez makes the switch to Old Trafford in January.