On the final day of the transfer window, Manchester United’s decision to secure goalkeeper Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp for £18.2 million has been met with scepticism by former Red Devil, Ben Foster, who described the move as a “panic buy.”
Despite their impressive £200 million outlay on attacking talents such as Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko, and Bryan Mbeumo, Man Utd fans were left disillusioned by the club’s failure to secure a new defensive midfielder, having been heavily linked with Brighton’s Carlos Baleba.
The acquisition of Lammens came after United reportedly ceased their pursuit of Aston Villa’s seasoned custodian, Emiliano Martinez. Although speculations suggested a preference for the Argentine, United ultimately opted for the 23-year-old Belgian shot-stopper.
Foster voiced his concerns on his podcast, Fozcast, specifically questioning whether Lammens possesses the necessary attributes to withstand the scrutiny of being United’s goalkeeper, notoriously one of the most challenging in world football. “I’ve observed extensive footage of Lammens, and while he appears competent, I’m uncertain about his skills with the ball at his feet. This whole situation reeks of desperation,” Foster remarked.
Echoing these sentiments, ESPN journalist Mark Ogden expressed his bewilderment at United’s decision to favour Lammens over the more established Martinez. He noted, “United seem to believe Lammens is the better option, possibly due to the financial implications associated with a short-term deal for Martinez. However, I suspect they may rue this decision.”
It remains to be seen whether Lammens can rise to the occasion at Old Trafford or if this hasty deadline day decision will backfire. As the season progresses, only time will tell if United’s gamble will pay off or leave them to reflect on what might have been with Martinez between the posts.
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