Man United move for 32yo veteran more reckless than ambitious - three alternatives they should consider

Manchester United have been linked with a move for Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

Multiple reports claim the Red Devils are keen to land the World Cup winner this summer. In fact, rumour has it that Rubem Amorim is spearheading the pursuit himself.

There have been debates about whether United should bin the highly controversial Andre Onana and pursue a more reliable shot-stopper.

They would have entertained that option, but they’ve struggled to drum up interest in the keeper, and his hamstring injury makes things more complicated.

United have been linked with a few names, but Martinez is the ‘chosen one’ by Amorim. Villa have already turned down a loan proposal from United and are holding out for at least £40 million.

However, United would be incredibly silly to spend that much on a 32-year-old goalkeeper who is past his prime and heading into the twilight of his career.

United have made some impressive transfer moves this summer, bringing in Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo. They’re off to a fine start, but signing Martiinez would take them back a few steps.

United have not fully recovered from the decision to bin David De Gea and spend a fortune replacing him with Onana. But that would pale in comparison to signing Martinez, especially at the quoted sum.

On his day, Martinez is a decent shot stopper and even more prolific in keeping out penalties. 

But the World Cup winner has become more error-prone. Last season, he made five errors leading to a shot and one that led to a goal.

Interestingly, he also picked up a red card for violent conduct against United towards the end of the season.

Signing Martinez would be more of a reckless move rather than one that shows ambition, especially for a global powerhouse that’s looking to put the forgettable 2024/25 campaign behind them.

There are plenty of other options on the market for United to consider if they’re so desperate to get a new keeper. We’ve narrowed the search down to three who would be far better than Martinez.

Diogo Costa – Porto

United should be looking at a keeper of Diogo Costa’s skill set if they’re to sign one this summer. 

Amorim is familiar with Costa’s game. He played against the Porto keeper during his spell at Sporting CP, so he has seen firsthand what his compatriot has in his locker.

Costa has built a reputation as one of the finest shot-stoppers in Europe and is equally adept at keeping out penalties. 

He has been linked with a move to the Premier League for a few years, with Manchester City among those keeping tabs on him. But that transfer never materialised.

With City opting to bring James Trafford back to the Etihad Stadium, United should pounce on the opportunity to finally lure Costa to the Premier League.

Last season, the 25-year-old kept 16 clean sheets in the Portuguese top flight in 32 games. He made 59 saves and prevented 2.3 goals.

With a price tag of around £50–60m, Costa wouldn’t come cheap. But given his age and experience, he could become a long-term solution between the posts. 

Gregor Kobel – Borussia Dortmund

Gregor Kobel might just be the most underrated goalkeeper in Europe. The Borussia Dortmund shot-stopper is another one of Europe’s finest who has been repeatedly linked with a move to England.

Chelsea were among those knocking on his door, but Dortmund have always been reluctant to let him leave, and it’s easy to see why.

His shot-stopping skills are up there with the very best in his generation, and at 27, he will come with bags of experience and bring calm to United’s backline.

The Swiss international is confident playing as a sweeper-keeper and is also a solid distributor from the back. 

He was simply outstanding in 2023/24, and even in a tougher 2024/25 campaign, he was still largely a bright spot for Dortmund. 

His talent was on display at the FIFA Club World Cup, keeping two clean sheets in five games, which earned him an average Sofascore rating of 7.24.

Kobel has the talent, commanding presence, and mentality to thrive in the Premier League.

Senne Lammens – Royal Antwerp

Any deal for a new marquee goalkeeper will require United to first offload Onana. That has been a massive problem for the Red Devils so far this summer.

They haven’t definitively ruled out a summer exit for the former Inter Milan star and have even placed a modest £30 million asking price for anyone interested.

But there have been no takers. Not even the free-spending Saudis have batted an eyelid in his direction.

Onana has improved since his horror show in 2023/24, but he’s still a wildcard and offers next to no confidence between the sticks.

With United potentially stuck with Onana for at least one more season, the ideal option would be to sign a quality back-up that would take the reins in the near future.

Royal Antwerp’s Senne Lammens checks that box. The 23-year-old has incredible potential. 

Last season, he saved 77% of the shots he faced in the Belgian Pro League and had an impressive passing accuracy of 71%, averaging over seven long balls per game. 

He has also shown that he’s not afraid to command his box and impressed with four penalty saves. 

Antwerp are willing to negotiate a deal worth around £13-17m for the Belgian shot-stopper. At that price, it should be a no-brainer for United.

Article written by onyekachiuwanabi .