Man Utd given solution for problem role with 21-yo producing ‘eye-catching’ displays

Manchester United’s goalkeeping woes have been one of the club’s most glaring issues over the past two years or so. 

Since David De Gea’s departure in the summer of 2023, the Red Devils have been unable to find themselves a safe pair of hands.

Andre Onana was pinpointed as the Spaniard’s heir, with the club spending £47.5 million to reunite him with his old Ajax boss, Erik ten Hag. However, the Cameroonian endured two miserable campaigns at Old Trafford, marked by shocking howlers.

Man United’s goalkeeping department has been an utter mess

This summer, Man Utd decided to replace Onana with Senne Lammens who sealed a deadline-day switch to Carrington, while the former Inter Milan star was sent on loan to Trabzonspor in Turkiye.

Nevertheless, the new boy has yet to make an appearance for MUFC, with Ruben Amorim sticking to Altay Bayindir. The Turkiye international has thus far featured in every Premier League contest for United this term, even though his performances have left much to be desired.

But while the club’s supporters still have high hopes for Lammens, another Man Utd has been presenting himself as a possible solution, as, unlike the Belgian, he’s been very much active this season.

As the Daily Mail journalist Chris Wheeler notes, Radek Vitek has been excellent since the start of the season.

(Photo by Ed Sykes/Getty Images)

The 21-year-old is spending his campaign on loan at Bristol City, and he immediately cemented himself as the club’s No.1 between the sticks. The giant custodian has been consolidating his status with every new outing. He has already collected three clean sheets, while saving 75 per cent of the shots he has faced, without making any errors leading to a goal.

Radek Vitek proving he deserves a chance at Man Utd

Vitek has already been praised for his ‘eye-catching’ displays this campaign, and is now considered a fan favourite among the Robins.

The Czech started his career at Olomouc’s academy in his home nation, before being poached by Man Utd in 2020. He spent the second half of the 2023/24 campaign on loan at Accrington, while representing Austria’s Blau Weiss Linz throughout the 2024/25 season.

Last summer, Man United did well to tie down Vitek with a new contract valid until 2028, before sanctioning his move to Bristol, which suggests that the club believes in his potential.

Hence, the young man’s time at Old Trafford might come sooner than expected, especially if the confusion at the back isn’t dispelled in the coming months