Senne Lammens has opened up on the final days of the summer transfer window amid his links to both Manchester United and Aston Villa.
Senne Lammens’ £18 million move to Manchester United on deadline day of the 2025 summer transfer window started as a relatively understated move.
The 23-year-old joined Rúben Amorim’s squad from Royal Antwerp, but for the whole of September, Altay Bayındır remained the club’s No. 1 choice.
But, once October rolled around, the Belgian made his debut in a 2-0 win against Sunderland, keeping the club’s first clean sheet of the season. Since then, he has played against Liverpool and Brighton too, winning all three of his first three appearances.
However, his current status was almost very different, with United also targeting other goalkeepers during the final hours of the window before eventually opting for Lammens.
Lammens speaks on deadline day drama
During the final two weeks of the summer transfer window, Lammens was subject to interest from Manchester City, Galatasaray, and Aston Villa. With United also interested in Emi Martínez, Lammens was touted as Villa’s possible replacement for the Argentina international.
United enquired about signing Martínez on the final day of the window, just hours before securing the Belgian instead. In an interview with Belgian outlet HLN, Lammens was asked about how his future could have looked if he had signed for Villa instead.
However, the shot-stopper made it very clear that he felt the only two options he really wanted were to either join United or stay at Royal Antwerp, his former club, with moving to Villa not really in the equation.
“Gosh, I made a decision pretty quickly: Manchester United or staying at Antwerp,” Lammens revealed. “I wouldn’t have even minded the latter.
“But looking back now, it’s definitely a good thing I made the move. It pains me to see where Antwerp are in the standings (14th out of 16 clubs in the Belgian Pro League). Hopefully, they can put together a run soon.
“Last summer was nerve-wracking because my transfer only went through on deadline day. But playing for a club like Manchester United was a dream come true. I still can’t believe it sometimes.”
Amorim has been surprised with Lammens’ impact
It was no secret in the media that Amorim’s main priority in the summer transfer window was securing players who already had vast Premier League experience, and was a major pusher for signing Martínez in the summer.
At the same time, the United boss wanted to secure Ollie Watkins as the club’s new striker, but he was overruled, and 22-year-old Benjamin Šeško joined the club from RB Leipzig for an initial £66 million fee instead.
Two months later, and most of those who follow the club would agree that Lammens and Šeško over Martínez and Watkins was the correct decision.
Amorim himself recently admitted that even he has been surprised by the way that Lammens has adjusted so quickly to life at Old Trafford. “I think a little bit because it’s hard in the moment of our club, all the speculation around the goalkeepers, he’s not a young kid, but he’s still young,” the head coach said.
“He coped really well with the pressure, he’s really composed, he’s defending really well. The importance of playing with both feet to kick the ball is so important nowadays, especially when you have to play against Liverpool in a more direct style.
“I’m a little bit surprised, but I was expecting a talented guy. But yes, a little bit surprised.”
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