Jason Wilcox has not had the smoothest of times at Manchester United in his role as director of football, but the Reds chief has received a welcome boost
Jason Wilcox and Michael Carrick will work closely together in this summer’s transfer window(Image: 2026 Manchester United FC)
Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens has been named as the Premier League transfer of the season, and that will serve as a welcome boost for director of football Jason Wilcox.
Before his arrival at United, Lammens was not too well known on British shores. His arrival from Belgian side Royal Antwerp for £18.2million was not received with too much excitement by home fans.
But the 23-year-old has been a stabilising and solid addition to the Reds backline, which kept eight clean sheets while he was between the goalposts. This award is further vindication for Wilcox and the many decisions which were made in last summer’s transfer window.
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At the time of his arrival, Andre Onana had been dropped and loaned to Trabzonspor, while Altay Bayindir also left plenty to be desired with his nervous displays in goal. Lammens came in and immediately kept a clean sheet on his debut, the 2-0 home victory over Sunderland.
He also made some vital saves in the following fixture, which saw United dramatically beat Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield. His arrival has proven to be one of United’s most astute and effective signings in recent memory.
Lammens was the last to arrive in an expensive transfer window which also saw Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko join the club in an outlay which came close to £250m. Considering United went on to finish third, it’s a window which looks like money well spent.
Lammens’ arrival looks like a masterstroke(Image: 2025 Manchester United FC)
Mbeumo and Sesko both scored 11 Premier League goals, while Cunha picked up 10, with the trio also contributing six assists between them. Not long after their arrivals, Wilcox offered an insight into the work he and his team put in behind the scenes to sign them.
He said: “We have got a clear plan. 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.
Many United fans targeted Wilcox during protests back at the start of February(Image: 2026 Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA)
“We have got to buy the right players. The right players who are talented but also who can deal with the pressure, who can take the squad forward.
“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.”
United are now in the market for some central midfielders, but are believed to be close to signing Atalanta ace Ederson.
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