Manchester, UK – Manchester United completed the signing of Belgian goalkeeper Senne lammens from Royal Antwerp just before the summer transfer window closed, a move already drawing scrutiny and labeled a “panic purchase” by former Red Devils’ goalkeeper Ben Foster. The 23-year-old arrives at Old Trafford for a reported fee of €20 million as Manchester United seeks to address concerns surrounding the performances of both André Onana and Altay Bayındır.
The acquisition of Lammens comes after Manchester United was heavily linked with Aston Villa and Argentina’s Emiliano Martínez, with reports suggesting a personal agreement was even reached. However, the club ultimately pivoted to Lammens, a decision that has raised questions given his relative inexperience with English football and the intense pressure of playing for a club the size of Manchester United.
Foster, speaking on the Fozcast podcast, was critical of the late move. “Being a United goalkeeper is the most tough goalkeeper position in the world of football. You need someone with a very physical presence,” he stated. He added, after reviewing footage of Lammens, “I haven’t seen what he is like when he controls the ball, and I think he’s a panic purchase. United may always have a kind of list of goalkeepers they see and are watching… but I don’t think they do in-depth analysis. A goalkeeper who was bought on the last day of the transfer market showed that the club was desperate.”
