- Foster slams United‘s Lammens signing as “panic buy”
- Martinez deal close before United switched to Antwerp star
- Lammens will challenge Onana and Bayindir for No.1 role
Manchester United finalised the signing of 23-year-old Lammens on transfer deadline day after concerns around Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir. However, many expected Martinez to arrive at Old Trafford instead, with the Argentine openly keen on a switch to Ruben Amorim’s side. Foster has now heavily criticised the 20-time English champions’ decision to move for the Belgian goalkeeper.
Speaking on his Fozcast podcast, Foster said: “Being a goalkeeper for United is the hardest goalkeeping position to play in world football. You need someone with broad shoulders.
“I’ve watched a lot of videos of him [Lammens] 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.”
United’s move for Lammens comes at a time of mounting pressure on the club’s goalkeepers, with Onana and Bayindir both struggling for form and guilty of high-profile errors. The Belgian joined from Royal Antwerp following a strong season in the Pro League, keeping seven clean sheets and earning two Player of the Month awards, and will be hoping to make the No. 1 spot his own.
Lammens will now compete with Onana and Bayindir for a place in Amorim’s starting side. United supporters will hope he can provide stability between the posts and grow into the role over time.
