Manchester United’s goalkeeping department could look a little different by the time Ruben Amorim starts his first full Premier League campaign.
Manchester United are chasing new attacking options, but Ruben Amorim must also weigh up changes in other areas.
The goalkeeping position could be a focus, even after Tom Heaton signed a new contract to stay at Old Trafford.
Altay Bayindir is expected to leave United, and Monaco have shown an interest in Andre Onana, whose future is far from secure.
Hubert Graczyk’s release came as something of a surprise, leaving United to weigh up additions of both first-team and developmental stoppers.
FC Blau-Weiss Linz goalkeeper Radek Vitek in action against Wolfsberger AC.
Photo by Severin Aichbauer/SEPA.Media /Getty Images
Radek Vitek praised upon Manchester United return
One man we cannot forget about is Radek Vitek.
United signed Vitek from Sigma Olomouc in 2020, spotting major potential in the young Czech stopper.
The 21-year-old showed promise on loan at Accrington Stanley before impressing with Blau-Weiss Linz last season.
Vitek was superb in Austria and now returns to Old Trafford with genuine hope of a first-team role with United.
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Now set for a chance to impress Amorim in pre-season, Vitek has been praised by United’s Academy lead goalkeeping coach Tommy Lee.
Speaking on United’s official website, Lee predicted that Vitek will reach the ‘top level’ of the game due to his talent alongside the effort he puts in on the pitch.
Lee even admitted using Vitek as an example to other young stoppers at United, urging those prospects to follow in his footsteps.
“Radek has done great out there in Austria,” said Lee. “He got an injury early on but recovered extremely well and played really well. He has got really good experience there.
“I think we often use Radek as an example to some of the younger goalkeepers in the Academy. He is a player who maximises every part of the programme to ensure he is the best he can possibly be. Nutrition, gym, analysis. He is the consummate professional and that is going to take him, I believe, to the top level.
“He is a talented boy and that needs to be said. He’s 6ft 6ins and that always helps! For the other lads, their challenge is to be as good as Radek and do everything he does and more. He is a great example of someone who does that,” he added.
Radek Vitek will be compared to Matej Kovar
Vitek is not the first Czech stopper to show some potential after being loaned out by United.
Matej Kovar joined United from FC Slovacko in 2018, just two years before Vitek arrived.
Kovar’s path was very similar to that of Vitek; loans to the EFL before heading out to Europe and impressing with regular first-team football.
Vitek’s loan came in Austria, whereas Kovar excelled back in his homeland with Czech side Sparta Prague.
Yet, rather than bring Kovar into first-team reckoning, United sold Kovar to Bayer Leverkusen upon his return in 2023.
Kovar is now surplus to requirements in Germany, having failed to secure first-team action with the Bundesliga side.
There will be comparisons between Vitek and Kovar, and United are bound to receive interest in Vitek this summer.
United’s tendency to sell young players in recent years means we can’t rule out a sale this summer, but Vitek will hope to do what Kovar couldn’t and secure a long future at Old Trafford.