Manchester United academy goalkeeper Radek Vitek attracting plenty of loan interest

Apart from player sales and incomings, Manchester United also have plans for the next wave of emerging academy gems who are in need of further exposure.

Plenty of young stars are expected to depart on loan to gain the experience of playing in a competitive first-team environment.

Goalkeeper Radek Vitek is expected to be one of them. Last season, the 20-year-old linked up with League Two side Accrington Stanley temporarily and enjoyed a fine spell.

He made 18 appearance while helping keep four clean sheets and even earned a couple of Man of the Match awards along along the way.

Vitek could leave on loan

He also made one appearance in PL2 and another in EFL Trophy for the United academy before departing on loan.

The FA Youth Cup winner has in total represented the United U23 team 22 times and the U18s in 27 games and signed a brand-new deal which will keep him at Old Trafford until 2027.

His displays in League Two have alerted clubs higher up the English footballing pyramid as well as abroad according to journalist Luca Bendoni.

League One teams as well as Scottish Premier League sides Kilmarnock and St Mirren have expressed an interest in taking the Czechia U20 international on loan.

The Red Devils are open to another temporary arrangement as they know it will be difficult for Vitek to break through into the first team with Andre Onana, Altay Bayindir and Tom Heaton ahead of him.

Vitek’s future

“20yo GK, Radek Vitek is set to leave Manchester United on loan: Kilmarnock, St. Mirren and a League One club are showing interest in him,” the journalist wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Vitek joined the club from Olomouc back in 2020 and despite impressive displays for the U18s, he was never called up for the matchday squad with David de Gea clearly the preferred option.

But Erik ten Hag noticed his form and the goalie made the matchday squad seven times under the Dutchman, including in the Champions League last season, but is yet to make his competitive debut.

He still has age on his side and if he keeps his performance levels up during his loan spells, he could get the chance to compete with Onana for the No 1 spot in the future, much like Dean Henderson did with David de Gea.

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