Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images
Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images
Manchester United’s goalkeeping situation has received clarity with the departures of Radek Vitek and Alay Bayindir on the same day.
There is no doubt anymore that Senne Lammens is Man Utd’s undisputed No. 1, with Karl Darlow and Tom Heaton deputising for him.
The race is run for Altay Bayindir despite it being a loan move, while Radek Vitek gets what he wanted, which is the chance to be a No. 1 at a club.
Man Utd have a buy-back clause for Vitek, and if they’ve learned from it, they’ll trigger it regardless of Lammens’ situation.
Radek Vitek and Dermot Mee of Manchester United applaud the fans after the pre-season friendly match between Rosenborg and Manchester United at Lerkendal Stadion on July 24, 2026 in Trondheim, Norway.
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
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Man Utd must trigger Radek Vitek’s buy-back clause
United have done well to maintain control over Vitek’s future because he is clearly an outstanding talent set for big things.
It’s just unfortunate timing for him that Lammens exceeded all expectations in his debut season, closing the door for him at Old Trafford.
Common sense dictates that Lammens continues as United’s No. 1, Vitek gets minutes elsewhere, and United get a cut of the fee when he inevitably takes another step forward in his career.
However, that would be United missing a golden opportunity that has nothing to do with Lammens’ situation at the club.
The Belgian could become one of the best goalkeepers in the world and close the door for any challengers for the next decade, but that’s beside the point.
A buy-back clause, in its very nature, is a market opportunity for the selling club to hopefully get the player back for a price a lot lower than his market value.
Real Madrid, for example, bought back Dani Carvajal for just £6m when he became one of the best full-backs in the world at Leverkusen.
Carvajal played for Madrid, but even if he hadn’t, they would have made a huge profit on him by buying him back for £6m, then selling him for at least six times that price.
Therein lies the play for United, who simply must trigger Vitek’s clause if he continues on this upward trajectory.
There’s no excuse for missing this opportunity because they’ve already done it once.
Man Utd should learn from Alvaro Fernandez mistake
United were at this place with Alvaro Fernandez a few years ago, when the player shone at Benfica.
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The Portuguese club exercised their option to buy Fernandez, but United had a buy-back clause worth just £16m.
Even if Fernandez had his heart set on joining Madrid, United should have triggered that clause and sold him to Madrid instead of letting Benfica take the money.
It sounds cruel in theory, but United have to look out for themselves, and it’s not like Benfica would have been forced to do this deal. They agreed to the clause.
Ultimately, United didn’t, for some reason, and were left licking their wounds as Benfica raked in the dough.
That dithering helps nobody, and United must ensure that it’s not repeated again in a few years when Vitek is valued at £30m or so.
That buy-back clause will be stardust at that point.