Player 'keen' to leave Manchester United amid 'strong' Celtic interest as transfer chances increase
Red Devils stopper spent last season on loan at Bristol City
Celtic have expressed ‘strong’ interest in Manchester United goalkeeper Radek Vitek, who is reportedly keen to leave Old Trafford.
The 22-year old has recently returned to Old Trafford after spending last season on loan at Bristol City then represented his native Czech Republic at the World Cup. He now finds himself below fellow stoppers Senne Lammens, Altay Bayindir and Tom Heaton in the selection pecking order, while they’ve also just enlisted Karl Darlow from Leeds United. Vitek remains under contract at Man United until the summer of 2028.
It is for this reason that the 6’ 6” number one reportedly wants to leave the club, having got a taste for first team football last season after making 41 league appearances for The Robins. Celtic are on the hunt for a new number one following the retirement of veteran stopper Kasper Schmeichel towards the end of last season. Second choice Viljami Sinisalo took over from the Dane and performed well but, Hoops boss Martin O’Neill is still hoping to strengthen between the sticks.
Celtic express ‘strong’ interest in United stopper
According to Football Insider: “Radek Vitek is keen to leave Manchester United amid strong interest from Celtic at the moment. The Czech goalkeeper has emerged as a clear target for the Glasgow giants, who are hoping to make him their new number one ahead of next season. Sources say that the 22-year-old wants to continue playing regular first-team football in 2026-27, having got 41 appearances under his belt during his latest loan spell.”
Vitek kept 12 clean sheets in the Championship last season and also won Young Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year at the club’s awards night. Before his spell at Ashton Gate he was farmed out to EFL League Two outfit Accrington Stanley and Austrian side Blau-Weiss Linz respectively. He was snapped up by United’s youth academy at the age of 16 after impressing for local Czech team Sigma Olomouc.
Czech hero on Vitek’s next steps
It’ll be of little surprise to anyone that Vitek sees Chelsea and Czech Republic legendary goalkeeper Petr Cech as one of his inspirations. Speaking to the BBC in May, the four-time Premier League winner advised the youngster to leave Old Trafford to ensure he continues playing first team football.
He said: "It's important to play. Of course, there are situations where sometimes you know that you have a big chance to come back and fight for your position. That's a different thing. But as it stands at United, Lammens has done really well. I'm sure he [Vitek] will want to go somewhere and continue playing."
The Czech international is one of many goalkeepers Celtic have been monitoring, along with United teammate Bayindir, who is also expected to leave Old Trafford. Wolfsberger number one Nikolas Polster is also on O’Neill’s radar after a successful campaign in the Austrian Bundesliga.
The Scottish Football Social Club is presented by BetSBK.com | 18+ | Gamble Responsibly