Manchester United are close to sanctioning the departure of one of their rising academy stars.
According to journalist Ben Jacobs, Middlesbrough are close to signing Man United goalkeeper Radek Vitek.
It has also been revealed that he will undergo a Boro medical in the next 48 hours.
The 22-year-old is eagerly seeking an exit because he wants guaranteed first-team football next season.
With Senne Lammens firmly established as the first-choice goalkeeper, Vitek could have seen his game time become very limited.
Vitek enhanced his reputation enormously during a superb loan spell with Bristol City throughout the 2025-26 campaign.
His outstanding shot-stopping and ability to organise the back line earned widespread praise.
He swept the board at Bristol City by winning the Player of the Year, Players’ Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards.
The Czech goalkeeper made 136 saves over the campaign with a success rate of 71 percent.
He also recorded 12 clean sheets, finishing only five behind league leader Carl Rushworth.
United believe they could realistically command a fee of around £15 million for their young star.
INEOS are likely to include both a buy-back clause and a sell-on clause, as they have done when sanctioning the departures of academy stars over the last 24 months.
Although the club would ideally have preferred to retain Vitek, they understand his ambition to establish himself as the first-choice goalkeeper elsewhere.
United have already prepared for life without him by signing experienced goalkeeper Karl Darlow on a free transfer.
Darlow will act as Lammens’ deputy, with Tom Heaton remaining as the club’s third-choice goalkeeper.
Stats from Fotmob.com
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