Senne Lammens deal shows Man United’s masterstroke, sure to excite fans

United’s renewed interest in Martinez escalated too quickly, almost overshadowing the fact that Lammens had been their first target.

The Belgian goalkeeper had been left out of Royal Antwerp’s matchday squad earlier in the season as talks intensified over a potential move to Old Trafford.

The deal, however, was far from straightforward. When negotiations over Lammens’ fee hit an impasse, United turned their attention back to Martinez.

This quick pivot played into United’s hands. While Villa added Jadon Sancho on loan with minimal wage commitment from United, Antwerp softened their stance and dropped their asking price for Lammens.

The club initially wanted around £25 million, but the final agreement saw United pay an initial £18.2 million, rising to £20m with add-ons.

Another detail worth noting: there is no sell-on clause attached to the deal, something that can be rare for a young player moving from a smaller club.

United fans have been wanting this kind of approach

It was not the best outcome for Emi Martinez, who was keen to make the move to Old Trafford, but United are finally showing signs of a club that knows how to handle its business.

They did not lose their heads when the price for Martinez was too high early in the window, and they stayed patient again when Antwerp were proving difficult.

This time, though, they used those situations to their advantage and got the deal that suited them best. That is not something we have seen from United much in recent years.

Ineos have also been more efficient behind the scenes. This is a club that once spent an entire summer chasing Frenkie de Jong before realising he had no intention of joining them.

Now, it looks like they are starting to learn from those mistakes and build a more reliable way of working.