Manchester, Aug 31: Manchester United are considering a dramatic late swoop for Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez before the summer transfer window shuts on Monday evening.
The Red Devils have been actively exploring options to strengthen their goalkeeping department, with 23-year-old Belgian Senne Lammens of Royal Antwerp initially emerging as a prime target. Lammens, who is highly rated within Belgian football circles, has been excluded from Antwerp’s last two fixtures and is believed to be eager to join United. His current club, meanwhile, are under pressure to secure a significant sale to help service an external loan.
Despite his potential, concerns remain over the youngster’s lack of top-flight experience. That has led United to turn their attention once again to Martinez, Argentina’s World Cup-winning No. 1 and twice named FIFA Best Goalkeeper. The 32-year-old boasts nearly 200 Premier League appearances, making him a vastly more proven option at a time when United’s defensive stability is under scrutiny.
The debate around the goalkeeping position intensified after Saturday’s narrow 3-2 win over Burnley, where manager Ruben Amorim openly admitted the current situation is far from ideal. “I think it is hard to be a Manchester United goalkeeper in this moment,” Amorim said after the match.
Both Altay Bayindir and Andre Onana have been culpable for errors this season, with Bayindir’s latest mistake almost costing United valuable points at Turf Moor before Bruno Fernandes’ stoppage-time penalty sealed victory.
Turkish giants Galatasaray are also monitoring developments. They remain keen on Lammens but could switch their attention to either Bayindir or Onana if United opt to secure the Belgian prospect.
Club sources have stressed that United will recruit no more than one goalkeeper before the 19:00 BST deadline on Monday. The Old Trafford outfit had previously enquired about a loan deal for Martinez earlier in the summer, but Villa resisted at the time. Interestingly, the Argentine appeared to signal a farewell to Villa supporters at the end of last season, although he featured in last week’s defeat to Brentford.
As the clock ticks down, United face a pivotal decision: invest in youth with Lammens or bank on Martinez’s proven experience to bring much-needed stability between the posts. (Agencies)
