Emi Martinez transfer suspicion raised after Man Utd's 'desperate' decision

Manchester United have been criticised for signing goalkeeper Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp on transfer deadline day after a deal for Emi Martinez failed to materialise

Manchester United's deadline day capture of Senne Lammens has been branded as "desperate" amid suggestions a switch for Emi Martinez was agonisingly close. The Red Devils snapped up Belgian goalkeeper Lammens from Royal Antwerp in an £18.2million deal on the final day of the summer transfer window.

The move came after major concerns emerged about the form of Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir at the beginning of this campaign following costly blunders from both. Aston Villa's Martinez was also strongly tipped for a late move to Old Trafford after being omitted from Unai Emery's squad for their loss to Crystal Palace last weekend.

Martinez eventually stayed at Villa Park as United opted for Lammens instead. United supporters will be hoping the 23-year-old's arrival will put an end to the club's ongoing issues between the posts.

However, former Red Devils keeper Ben Foster has cast serious doubt over whether Lammens is capable of securing the No. 1 spot. The ex-England and Wrexham star branded the transfer a "panic buy" and queried whether United have done their homework on their new signing.

"Being a goalkeeper for United is the hardest goalkeeping position to play in world football," Foster said on his Fozcast podcast. "You need someone with broad shoulders.

"I've watched a lot of videos of him 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."

Lammens conceded just 32 goals across 30 appearances for Royal Antwerp in Belgium's top flight last term, racking up seven clean sheets. The shot-stopper claimed the division's player of the month gong on two occasions, making 173 saves throughout the season.

United boss Ruben Amorim had previously insisted he was content with his current crop of keepers, though attempts to secure fresh talent intensified as the transfer deadline approached. Villa's Martinez made his desire for a switch to Old Trafford crystal clear, yet a move for the Argentine ultimately collapsed.

Foster - who enjoyed a five-year stint with United from 2005 to 2010 - believes the deal was nearly done following Emery's icy response when quizzed about Martinez's predicament last week. He also suggested club chiefs could have sealed the transfer had they truly wanted it, with the 32-year-old now facing an uncomfortable return to Villa following the international break.

Foster said: "The fact that he missed Aston Villa's game the other night tells me that a deal was very close. It could be a million things [that went wrong]. It could be a medical issue, it could be a wages issue, it could be the transfer fee between the two clubs.

"None of us know what it is yet but I think that any of that could have been overcome. It's going to be interesting to see what happens to Emi Martinez now, though.

"If he doesn't get a move anywhere, then he's going to have to go back to Aston Villa. You saw the interview with Unai Emery before the game the other day and he wouldn't talk about him one little bit."