Manchester United are poised to announce the permanent transfer of goalkeeper Radek Vitek to Middlesbrough. The 22-year-old has openly admitted he wants first-team football after an impressive loan spell at Bristol City, and is unlikely to get it at Old Trafford ahead of Senne Lammens.
Vitek's desire for first-team football
Vitek was kept on the bench by Michael Carrick during the 2-1 friendly win over Atletico Madrid on Saturday, potentially ensuring he avoided an injury that would scupper any move. Now, he is closing in on a move to Carrick's former team, Middlesbrough, with United set to include both a sell-on clause and a buy-back option within the agreement.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano claims that United are set to receive a fee in the region of £7million, in a total package that could rise to £14m. Having scooped the end-of-season honours at Bristol City, Vitek attracted considerable interest from multiple clubs.
Vitek's statement on his future
"I feel great and ready to go again somewhere to be, hopefully, number one, so we will see," Vitek said. "We will see what is going to happen. At the moment, I am still here, but we will see. I hope so. I hope there will be some interest. I think you will know when things are more concrete."
Other potential departures and arrivals
Vitek is not the sole United player who may depart in the coming days. Joshua Zirkzee has approved a switch to Juventus while Altay Bayindir is closing in on a move to Celta Vigo.
Regarding arrivals, United have completed three signings this summer. Goalkeeper Karl Darlow arrived on a free transfer to provide cover for Lammens, while midfield pair Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans have been secured for a total of £85million.
Carrick's midfield concerns
Carrick is keen to bring in a third midfielder, especially following Manuel Ugarte's serious knee injury sustained at the World Cup, which will sideline him for the majority of the campaign. Nevertheless, the Red Devils hierarchy are considering whether to focus on alternative positions instead.
Left-back is an area which United seek to bolster, with Luke Shaw's fitness remaining a constant worry and Patrick Dorgu being deployed further upfield since Carrick's appointment. Newcastle's Lewis Hall is a target, and he would welcome the move, though it would probably require a substantial fee to extract him from a club that have already conducted major sales this summer.
