Lammens named Premier League's best transfer as Wilcox earns vindication ahead of new window

Senne Lammens has been named the Premier League’s transfer of the season, a recognition that strengthens Jason Wilcox’s standing as Manchester United’s director of football ahead of what is expected to be another significant summer window.

The 23-year-old goalkeeper arrived from Belgian side Royal Antwerp for £18.2 million with little fanfare, stepping in after André Onana was dropped and loaned to Trabzonspor and Altay Bayindir failed to convince. Lammens kept a clean sheet on his debut — a 2-0 home win over Sunderland — and made crucial saves in a 2-1 victory at Anfield against Liverpool shortly after.

Across his appearances, United kept eight clean sheets with Lammens between the posts, and the award now stands as one of the clearer vindications of Wilcox’s first full transfer window in charge.

Lammens was the final arrival in a summer outlay that came close to £250 million, which also brought Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, and Benjamin Sesko to Old Trafford. United finished third in the Premier League, and the attacking returns from that trio underline the window’s overall success: Mbeumo and Sesko each scored 11 Premier League goals, while Cunha added 10, with the three players combining for six assists.

Wilcox, reflecting on the recruitment process after those signings were completed, outlined the philosophy driving his decisions. “We have got a clear plan,” he said. “We know what we have got to do, we know the areas of the team that we have got to improve. For us to get in the top four and consistently challenge for Champions League places, win Champions League, win Premier League, we have got to invest in the squad.”

He added that talent alone is not the only criterion. “It is not always about just signing elite talent — they have got to have the right character and be somebody who can bring something different to the team.”

With central midfield identified as the priority area for this summer, United are reported to be close to agreeing a deal for Atalanta midfielder Ederson as Wilcox looks to build on the momentum generated by last season’s recruitment.