Manchester United’s hunt for a new goalkeeper is reliant on one key condition after a failed pursuit of Aston Villa number one Emiliano Martinez, according to a report.
Martinez is Ruled Out
United have been actively exploring the goalkeeper market this summer with Ruben Amorim evidently dissatisfied with the current options at Old Trafford, Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir.
The club made an ambitious approach to Paris Saint-Germain’s Gianluigi Donnarumma, whose contract situation with the European champions has put a number of clubs across Europe on red-alert.
Similarly, talks were held with Martinez – Argentina’s World Cup winning hero in 2022 – over a potential loan move.
But this was immediately rejected by Villa who informed United that the 32-year-old can “only leave on a permanent deal,” according to The Athletic. The report states the mooted price – believed to be as high as £40 million – is “not something United will entertain.”
Other targets have been considered at a cheaper price point, chiefly Royal Antwerp’s rising star, Senne Lammens.
The Belgian U-21 international enjoyed a superb campaign in the Jupiler Pro League last season and has many admirers across Europe.
Antwerp are believed to value the goalkeeper at around £17 million with a report relayed by The Peoples Person revealing talks had been held by United executives with both the club and player. Lammens is very open to the switch.
One In, One Out
The Athletic contends a new goalkeeper will not arrive unless one of the existing options – Onana or Bayindir – leaves first.
“United have looked at goalkeepers, but there is no sign Andre Onana will go, so that parks an arrival in that position, unless Altay Bayindir leaves,” the report reveals.
Onana is believed to be intent on remaining and re-establishing himself as one of the best shot stoppers in Europe, as he demonstrated with Inter Milan in the season prior to his move to Old Trafford.
Bayindir is much closer to the exit door, however. The former Fenerbahce star has been linked with a return to Turkey with the 27-year-old thought to be interested in more first-team opportunities ahead of next summer’s World Cup in America.
United need Bayindir to depart in order to sanction a deal for his replacement – but the erratic form of Onana means any goalkeeper who arrives at the Theatre of Dreams this summer would harbour aspirations of quickly becoming the club’s undisputed number one.
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Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
