Ben Foster claims Man United should have signed goalkeeper with 'massive aura', he wanted to join
Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net.
(Credit: Imago/No Tippy Tappy Football via YouTube)
Jack Heath
Thu 25 September 2025 20:15, UK
Ben Foster has stated that Man United missed an opportunity to sign a want-away goalkeeper last summer as the club opted to bring in Senne Lammens instead.
The goalkeeper position has been a troubling area for Ruben Amorim which was meant to be solved after Man United sign Senne Lammens.
However, the Belgian is yet to make a start for his new club with Aston Villa being rejected by Lammens in favour of a move to Man United.
Altay Bayindir has been less than convincing with former Watford keeper Foster believing that the Red Devils should have brought in one world-class shot-stopper who wanted to head to Old Trafford.
Credit: Imago
Former Sunderland chief scout Mick Brown exclusively told Football Insider on 2 September that Emiliano Martinez wanted to move to Man United.
The World Cup winner was denied that chance as he now contends with staying at Villa Park for a while longer.
Ex-West Brom shot-stopper Foster touched on the Red Devils’ poor transfer dealings as they missed out on the Argentinian.
MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES
He said on No Tippy Tappy Football (24 September): “Man United just should have signed Emi Martinez.
They should have signed [Gianluigi] Donnarumma when they had a chance.
They didn’t.
“But if you can’t get Donnarumma, then go and get Emi Martinez.
And Emi Martinez has got it in absolute bundles.
He has genuine bundles.
“And if they had signed him, I would put Man United in the top six this season if they had signed Emi.
I really would have.”
With Bayindir still trusted by Amorim despite his frequent appalling performances, Lammens will be pushing hard to get into the first team soon.
The 23-year-old arrives at Old Trafford with a decent record during his time at Royal Antwerp and should eventually oust the Turk.
However, Jim Ratcliffe may rue his decision to not pursue Martinez if the big Belgian crumbles under the pressure at United.
2024-25 all competitionsEmiliano MartinezSenne LammensAltay BayindirAppearances534210Minutes played4,6363,780930Clean sheets1593Goals conceded615518Goals conceded per-901.151.311.8(Source: Sofascore)
As seen with David De Gea and Andre Onana, the Red Devils keepers face intense scrutiny with every game that passes and Lammens may follow the same path.
Villa’s number 23 is contracted to his club until June 2029 which may put off United from going back in for the shot-stopper.
Yet, if the Villains continue to be poor and Amorim manages to turn things around, Martinez may be tempted by a move to Old Trafford and force through a move in the upcoming transfer windows.