Manchester United are no strangers to a deadline-day deal. In previous years gone by, huge deals for the likes of Anthony Martial, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Radamel Falcao have arrived on the brink of the deadline.
Unsurprisingly, that is set to continue, with United involved in a transfer merry-go-round as the Premier League transfer deadline looms.
Manchester United In Shock Transfer Merry-Go-Round
According to Fabrizio Romano and Mike McGrath, Manchester United are closing in on the surprising signing of Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
As part of the deal, United winger Jadon Sancho is set to go the other way and link up with Unai Emery at Villa Park.
Additionally, the final twist in this transfer saga is Royal Antwerp goalkeeper Senne Lammens, who is also on his way to Villa Park. Manchester United were interested in Lammens earlier in the window. However, Villa look set to sign the Belgian international as a replacement for Martinez.
Reportedly, the World Cup winner has already agreed personal terms with the Red Devils. According to McGrath, a deal is seen as ‘complicated’ due to Sancho’s high wage demands, after the Englishman had already seen a deal to AS Roma fall through this summer due to his salary requests.
Do All Three Signings Fit The Bill?
Ruben Amorim has been on the lookout for a new goalkeeper all summer.
Andre Onana’s performances during his United tenure have been below par. Onana was at fault in the Carabao Cup defeat to League Two Grimsby Town. Likewise, Altay Bayindir has come under scrutiny in recent weeks due to his dismal displays.
The signing of Martinez could finally plug the Red Devils ‘keeper woes.
A World Cup winner, the Argentinian has valuable experience at the highest level. His shot-stopping ability and mesmeric saves would give United confidence at the back.
For Villa, Lammens is a slight downgrade from Martinez. However, the Belgian is still only 23 and has been widely tipped as the heir to the Thibaut Courtois place for Belgium.
Aged 23, he was instrumental last season for Antwerp. His penalty saves and cat-like reactions earned him a first Belgium call-up in March. Although the ‘keeper lacks Martinez’s experience, he is still more than capable of being Villa’s number one.
Sancho could turn out to be a brilliant move for Villa if the Englishman brings his Borussia Dortmund form to Birmingham. However, the keyword there is ‘if’.
He has come under huge criticism for his lack of consistency on the pitch. After resurrecting Ollie Watkins’ career, Emery would be looking to do the same with Sancho.
However, as mentioned previously, the move all rests on whether Villa would be prepared to pay the 25-year-old’s reportedly extortionate wage demands.