Manchester United have reached an agreement to sign goalkeeper Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp in a deal worth €21m (£18.1m) plus add-ons.
The 23-year-old Belgian is set to sign a five-year contract at Old Trafford, with no sell-on clause included in the deal.
He is already en route to Manchester to complete his medical before the move is formally announced.
The signing effectively ends United’s pursuit of Aston Villa’s World Cup-winning goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who had also been under consideration this summer.
Manchester United have reached an agreement to sign goalkeeper Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp in a deal worth €21m (£18.1m) plus add-ons
|GETTY/PA
Club sources have told the BBC that Martinez was respected as an option, but the long-term potential of Lammens -combined with the financial outlay required for the Argentine - convinced United to prioritise youth and development instead.
United have monitored Lammens for several months, impressed by his commanding presence, distribution, and reputation as one of Belgium’s most promising shot-stoppers.
He has already gained experience in the Champions League and domestic title races with Antwerp, and the club see him as someone capable of growing into a first-choice role in years to come.
The decision to recruit another goalkeeper comes against the backdrop of a turbulent season between the sticks for United.
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Andre Onana, who arrived from Inter Milanin 2023 in a £47m deal, was meant to be the long-term successor to David de Gea.
Instead, he has endured a spell at Old Trafford littered with mistakes, particularly in high-profile matches.
On Wednesday night, Onana was dire as United crashed out of the Carabao Cup to Grimsby Town - saving just one penalty in the shootout.
He was consequently demoted to the bench for the dramatic 3-2 victory over Burnley on Saturday.
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| PADeputy goalkeeper Altay Bayindir has also struggled to convince when called upon.
The Turkish international, signed from Fenerbahce in 2023, has rarely looked settled, with shaky performances so far this term raising doubts about his ability to step up.
United had hoped Bayindir would provide genuine competition for Onana, but insiders now admit the experiment has not worked as planned.
That instability has been reflected in the numbers.
Last season, United conceded 54 goals in the Premier League alone.
In this context, the capture of Lammens represents both an investment in the future and a signal to the current goalkeepers that standards must rise.
While the Belgian is unlikely to walk straight into the No 1 spot, United believe he can develop quickly under Ruben Amorim's coaching staff.
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| REUTERSIt's also been suggested they feel he can seriously challenge for the starting role within the next two seasons.
For now, the deal offers United supporters a glimpse of forward planning in a position that has caused recurring problems.
Whether Lammens becomes the solution or another player lost in the shuffle will depend on how swiftly he adapts to the Premier League spotlight.