Club chief breaks silence on £18m Man United transfer as private talks revealed

Royal Antwerp director of football Marc Overmars has revealed what he told Manchester United officials when they showed concrete interest in Senne Lammens this summer.

The 23-year-old stopper completed the £18.2million move on transfer deadline day, though he's yet to make his Premier League debut, having been named on the bench for the Manchester derby last weekend.

United were also reportedly considering Aston Villa's Emi Martinez at the same time. The World cup winner was even left out of Villa’s squad for their clash against Crystal Palace after it emerged he had agreed personal terms with United.

While United continued their negotiations with Villa over Martinez, they were also advancing a deal for Lammens. In the end, Martinez stayed put at Villa Park, and the Belgian completed his move to United.

Detailing the period of negotiations with United, Overmars - who played for Arsenal during his own career - said: "When Manchester United wanted Senne Lammens, we said; 'Listen, we're not Brighton or Brentford, with whom you have to negotiate for weeks'. With us, things have to move quickly.

"With Manchester United, we started as losers on deadline day. We had a deal with Aston Villa, but Martinez still had to leave and Senne didn't want to go there. Only then did Man Utdd make a first offer. Lower than Aston Villa. Four hours later, we finally reached an agreement."

Reds head coach Ruben Amorim has, meanwhile, clarified the goalkeeper situation ahead of their Premier League clash with Chelsea this afternoon.

When asked whether Altay Bayindir was the new United No.1, Amorim replied: "No, nobody has a place that is his place. Everyone has to fight. Everyone is fighting for a place.

"I'm just trying to win games, trying to