Radek Vitek’s exit demand exposes Man Utd’s goalkeeper crisis

Manchester United’s goalkeeper crisis has deepened after Radek Vitek publicly declared his desire to leave Old Trafford, exposing the club’s lack of clarity over its hierarchy between the posts. The 22-year-old Czech, who impressed on loan at Bristol City last season, is seeking a guaranteed starting role elsewhere after admitting he cannot dislodge Senne Lammens at United. His exit demand, delivered after featuring in United’s pre-season defeat to Wrexham, underscores a transfer saga that risks spiralling into a costly distraction.

Vitek’s exit demand lays bare United’s goalkeeper uncertainty

Vitek’s stance is unambiguous: he wants to be a first-choice goalkeeper in 2025-26, and United’s current setup does not accommodate that ambition. Speaking after United’s 1-0 loss in Helsinki, he said he felt ready to go somewhere to be number one and that his preference for a permanent move or loan depended on what the club wanted. The admission that there have been a few interests on the table suggests clubs are already circling, with Hull City and Ipswich Town—both newly promoted to the Premier League—reported as potential suitors.

United’s goalkeeper market has been a source of frustration all summer. The club’s inability to address its goalkeeping situation has left them vulnerable, while Vitek’s development now hangs in the balance. His progress under goalkeeping coach Craig Mawson—who has worked with him for nearly six years—and the guidance of veteran Tom Heaton has been significant, but the pathway to minutes at Old Trafford is blocked. Lammens’ emergence as a reliable option has rendered Vitek surplus to requirements, forcing the club into a difficult decision: sell now to avoid a fire-sale later, or gamble on a loan that could still end in acrimony.

Onana’s future remains a complicating factor

United’s goalkeeper dilemma is compounded by the uncertainty surrounding André Onana, whose ACL injury at Villa Park has sidelined him until at least next spring. The Belgian’s absence has already reshaped United’s midfield dynamics, as Villa’s crisis and Belgium’s World Cup gamble illustrate the broader tactical fallout. With Onana’s rehabilitation ongoing, United cannot afford to lose another goalkeeper to a dead-end role. Yet Vitek’s exit demand suggests the club’s hierarchy is already fractured, with no clear plan to integrate either player into a coherent pecking order.

The timing of Vitek’s statement is particularly damaging. United’s pre-season schedule is critical for squad cohesion, but the goalkeeper’s focus appears elsewhere. His involvement in the Wrexham defeat—where he played the second half—was a rare competitive outing, yet his mind is clearly on his future. The club’s inability to resolve this impasse risks undermining morale, especially if Vitek’s replacement is yet another short-term solution. The contrast with United’s transfer activity elsewhere—such as Mason Greenwood’s £10m move to Fenerbahce, which generated a rare financial windfall—only highlights the goalkeeper situation as a self-inflicted wound.

United’s transfer window exposes deeper structural flaws

Vitek’s exit demand is not an isolated issue but a symptom of United’s broader transfer dysfunction. While rivals like Arsenal and Chelsea have moved decisively—pursuing targets like Yan Diomande and Morgan Rogers—the Red Devils have lurched between targets, with Crysencio Summerville’s potential move to Roma and now Vitek’s saga dominating headlines. The club’s failure to address its goalkeeper crisis with urgency suggests a lack of strategic foresight, particularly when compared to the proactive approach of clubs like Tottenham, who are reportedly finalising deals like Djed Spence’s potential return to Italy.

The risk for United is that Vitek’s sale becomes a fire-sale. If the club cannot secure a suitable fee—reports suggest interest from Hull City and Ipswich Town—it may be forced to accept a cut-price deal or, worse, allow him to leave on a free transfer next summer. That would compound the financial loss from Greenwood’s departure and leave United with a gaping hole between the posts. The club’s recent history of selling young goalkeepers—such as Dean Henderson’s loan merry-go-round—offers little reassurance that this transfer window will end differently.

Manchester United’s goalkeeper crisis is no longer a background noise; it is a front-row issue threatening to derail their season before it begins. Radek Vitek’s exit demand has laid bare the club’s lack of clarity over its goalkeeping future, while André Onana’s injury has turned a logistical problem into a structural one. With no clear resolution in sight, United risk repeating the mistakes of past transfer windows—selling talent too cheaply, reacting too late, and leaving fans to wonder why a club with such resources cannot get the basics right.