Manchester United’s academy goalkeeper departs for Teesside in a £14 million deal, featuring strategic buy-back and sell-on clauses as the club prioritises off-pitch departures and squad rebuilding.
On the pitch, Manchester United are gearing up well for what will prove to be an unpredictable Premier League season given the amount of managerial changes that have occurred.
After a 1-0 loss to Wrexham, Michael Carrick's side have won their last two games, with the 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid featuring a lot more of the senior side for around 70 minutes.
Some of the big World Cup stars are beginning to return to Carrington, like Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Dalot and Youri Tielemans.
However, off the pitch, there has been little to no major noise around incomings, but the club appear to be focusing on departures.
United include buy-back clause for Vitek
Radek Vitek stole the show on loan at Bristol City last season, as evidenced by his winning both Fans Player of the Year and Players Player of the Year, as well as their Young Player of the Year.
The Czech goalkeeper can count himself unlucky to be returning to a United squad where another young goalkeeper, Senne Lammens, has established himself as the number one.
Vitek is nearing a move to Middlesbrough, and according to Fabrizio Romano, the fee will be £7 million up front with another £7 million in add-ons, which could see the whole package be £14 million.
Danyal Khan also revealed that within this deal, the club have a 35% sell-on clause as well as an option to buy back or match the rights for the player.
Need to improve at selling
On the face of it, £14 million as an overall package is not the worst deal in the world. However, the fact that it is not guaranteed makes this so frustrating, especially with the context that James Trafford, before moving to Burnley in 2023, had only been at Bolton on loan, and still City get guaranteed £15 million for him with a package that could get to £20 million.
While Carl Rushworth has more experience and played for Championship-winning Coventry City, he also moved for £22.5 million.
Even looking at other sales Manchester United have made from Alvaro Carreras, Matej Kovar, Ethan Galbraith, and many more, United seem to always sell players for undervalued fees.
Perhaps the loan situation needs looking at, with many players going to League One or League Two, and occasionally the Championship. Rival clubs often secure not just moves abroad but also Premier League loans in some cases for their players.
