- New No.1 being sought at Old Trafford
- Argentine star still on the books at Villa
- Red Devils exploring alternative options
A new goalkeeper was said to figure prominently on the summer recruiting wish list at Old Trafford. They may yet get one, but the Premier League giants appear set to miss out on supposedly top targets.
Champions League and European Championship winner Gianluigi Donnarruma is heading for the exit at Paris Saint-Germain, but could end up in Manchester with United‘s arch-rivals City. Hopes of doing a deal for Martinez are also fading.
The enigmatic World Cup-winning Argentine was seemingly open to a move at one stage, as he prepared to sever ties with Aston Villa, but the 32-year-old remains in the West Midlands and United are still contemplating how to find an upgrade on Cameroonian custodian Andre Onana.
Yorke, who played for Villa before becoming a Treble winner with United, has told Jackpot City Casino: “Emi Martinez has a big personality, there’s no two ways about that. He’s won the World Cup, he’s one of the best at saving penalties, and he’s got character – he’s got everything. Ideally, I thought we were going to get him because at one stage it looked like he was dead certain to be going to United.
“He probably tried to force that move, but for some reason it didn’t materialise, which in my opinion is a bit of a disappointment. However, Villa is also a club that I’m very familiar with, so whether he stays at Villa, I think it’s a good move for him as well. But I’m sure United would love to have him.”
Rather than bringing in a global superstar, United are reportedly closing in on a deal for Belgian shot-stopper Senne Lammens – with a £17 million ($23m) agreement in the pipeline with Royal Antwerp.