Spot-kick sensation who is defying Europe's xG models

Manchester United have invested in the vast promise of Senne Lammens, the 23-year-old Belgian who calls to mind Old Trafford legend David de Gea, writes

- Lawrence Ostlere

Senne Lammens travelled to Royal Antwerp's Bosuil Stadium on Monday morning, gathered a few belongings and dashed to Antwerp International airport without saying goodbye to his teammates. He landed in Manchester at midday and was whisked to United’s Carrington training complex to complete his £18m transfer.

Lammens had been pinging radars at Old Trafford and across Europe for months after breaking xG models in an extraordinary first season for Antwerp in the Belgian Pro League. He was stood down from club duties over the past two weeks as the deal progressed. Yet the 23-year-old goalkeeper was left waiting until the final hours of the window while United considered Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez, and it turned into another frantic deadline day deal.

Martinez was the safe pick wanted by Ruben Amorim, an established Premier League keeper and World Cup winner with the kind of nasty streak United have been missing. In the end, his wages and Villa’s asking price proved prohibitive, requiring Andre Onana to be offloaded. United tried to shoo Onana to Turkey over the weekend, but a move never materialised.