Deadline day was always expected to bring twists for Manchester United, and once it has not disappointed.
With the clock ticking, Ineos are working around the clock to provide Ruben Amorim with final additions to round off the summer window.
United’s business had already been intense, with several key departures and the hunt for reinforcements taking centre stage across the last 48 hours.
Supporters had hoped for a couple more statement signings to settle nerves after a turbulent start to the season.
The goalkeeper situation had been one of the major talking points throughout the week.
While Andre Onana remains first choice, there were whispers from Carrington that Amorim and his staff wanted another option between the sticks, someone who could provide both competition and long-term security.
That brought two names firmly into play – Royal Antwerp’s Senne Lammens and Aston Villa’s World Cup-winning star, Emiliano Martinez.
For much of deadline day, it was the Argentine who looked the favourite.
A deal was being explored that would have seen Jadon Sancho included as part of a permanent swap arrangement, effectively clearing a headache for United while bringing in an elite goalkeeper in return.
Fabrizio Romano suggested the valuations were close, with both players priced at around £25million.
But just as the deal looked possible, Jadon Sancho refused to agree to a permanent exit.
Instead, the winger only accepted a loan move to Aston Villa, where the Midlands club will cover 80% of his wages across the 2025/26 campaign.
This refusal left United unable to push through their preferred swap deal with Villa for Martinez, forcing Ineos to pivot.
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Fabrizio Romano has since confirmed, via the GIVEMESPORT YouTube channel, that United’s plan was indeed to push for the Martinez-Sancho swap without additional money involved.
With that falling through, United acted swiftly to finalise the signing of 23-year-old Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp.
For Sancho, the drama continues.
After rejecting Roma and other European suitors earlier in the summer, he has now complicated yet another deal at the eleventh hour.
His contract runs until 2026, and unless United trigger the extension clause, he is edging closer to leaving for free soon.
While United did secure Lammens, the collapse of the Martinez deal highlights just how disruptive Sancho’s saga has been.
Even in his final days at Old Trafford, he managed to bring chaos to a key transfer plan.
