‎Emiliano Martinez Left Waiting as Manchester United Sign Senne Lammens Over £30m Aston Villa Star

‎Emiliano Martinez spent transfer deadline day waiting for a call from Manchester United that never arrived, as the club secured the signing of Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens instead.

‎

‎Emiliano Martinez waited for a Manchester United transfer call that never came as the Red Devils sealed an £18m deal for Senne Lammens.

‎Getty Images

‎

‎A new goalkeeper was one of United’s top priorities during the summer transfer window. Many saw Argentina international Martinez, a 2022 World Cup winner, as the ideal candidate to replace Andre Onana, who faced criticism for several high-profile errors.

‎

‎Martinez, 32, was reportedly open to a move and had given the impression of a farewell to Aston Villa fans at the close of the 2024–25 season. According to The Athletic, the goalkeeper even reached out to national teammate Lisandro Martinez, hoping the United defender could advocate for him within the club. Reports also suggest he spoke with manager Ruben Amorim earlier in the summer, with Amorim believing the veteran’s experience and leadership could strengthen the squad.

‎

‎Negotiations, however, stalled. United’s only approach involved a loan proposal, which was dismissed by Villa. Martinez’s salary also proved a sticking point, as he currently earns more than Onana under a long-term contract running until 2029. Additionally, Aston Villa demanded a transfer fee exceeding £30 million ($41m), a figure that made the deal difficult to finalize.

‎

‎With no agreement reached, Manchester United shifted focus and completed the signing of Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp for £18 million ($24m). The 22-year-old goalkeeper is expected to provide competition in the squad, leaving Martinez to continue his career at Villa Park before joining Argentina on international duty for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.