Manchester United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir’s move to Besiktas this summer hinges on one key factor, according to Fabrizio Romano. Unsafe Pair of Hands Bayindir, 28, arrived at Old Trafford from Fenerbahçe for £4.3 million in the summer of 2023. The Türkiye international was signed to be the No. 2 to Andre Onana, signed in the same window from Inter Milan for £47.2m to replace long-term stalwart David De Gea. Despite the 6’6 shot-stopper described as “top class” by Bruno Fernandes, and Onana forging a reputation as one of Europe’s best goalkeepers in Italy, neither has proved to be a successful signing. Both have committed a series of costly mistakes when starting, often destabilising the defence they are designed to protect. This led to the decision last summer to sign Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp, even with the 23-year-old Belgian having only one season of first-team experience under his belt. Lammens’ capture led to Onana joining Trabzonspor on loan as then-head coach Ruben Amorim preferred Bayindir. The Turkish side are hoping to strike a permanent deal for the Cameroon international this summer. But Bayindir’s performance in Onana’s stead were as shaky, with Lammens quickly assuming the starting berth and proving transformative between the sticks. The Zottegem native is already one of United’s best signings in years. Bayindir to Besiktas? Both the player and club are open to Bayindir’s departure this summer, with a return to Türkiye the most likely destination. Interestingly, Trabzonspor have been linked with a move, though Super Lig giant Besiktas are understood to be the strongest suitor. A report relayed by The Peoples Person revealed the Black Eagles have agreed personal terms with Bayindir, despite his previous allegiance with bitter rivals Fenerbahçe. However, Besiktas have parted ways with their manager, Sergen Yalçın, by mutual agreement after a disappointing campaign at the Tüpraş Stadium. Italian transfer expert Romano claims this will affect the pursuit of Bayindir as the new manager will need to approve the 6’6 United star as a target. 🚨 Altay Bayindir can leave Manchester United in the summer. Besiktas remain interested but deal depends on new manager after recent change of coach. pic.twitter.com/MLZrr3HrLH — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 19, 2026 Tweet: “Altay Bayindir can leave Manchester United in the summer. Besiktas remain interested but deal depends on new manager after recent change of coach.” Final Thoughts Romano confirms Besiktas “remain interested” in Bayindir, which offers hope a deal will still be pursued once their new chief is in place. With United’s summer war chest set to be directed primarily towards the midfield, there will be little left over for a new goalkeeper. Bayindir’s sale will fund his replacement – and while a new No. 2 is not the type of signing that gets fans’ heart rates going, the frightening prospect of the Turkish ‘keeper starting for United again should. Featured image Mike Hewitt via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Darragh Fox Darragh is an editor for The Peoples Person who spent three years learning about the Cold War at the University of Sheffield slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about. Amad’s first touch should be officially recognised as the eighth wonder of the world.
“Top class” United star’s escape from Old Trafford under threat despite agreeing to move – Fabrizio Romano
“I was raging” – Roy Keane tears into Man Utd & Bruno Fernandes for ‘cringe’ display
Roy Keane bashed Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes for prioritising personal glory over the team’s best interest on Sunday.On the penutlimate round of the season, the Red Devils hosted Nottingham Forest for the final home fixture of campaign.DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL STRETTY NEWS APP FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES & BREAKING NEWS – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAYMichael Carrick’s men prevailed by three goals to two, with Luke Shaw, Matheus Cunha, and Bryan Mbuemo getting on the scoresheet.Roy Keane slams Bruno Fernandes & MUFC teammates for their demeanor against ForestWhile Man Utd were happy to sign off with a win at Old Trafford, it was obvious that the team was also hoping to help Fernandes break the Premier League assist record per season.The Portuguese entered the game with 19 assists in his tally, just one behind the Thierry Henry and Kevin de Bruyne.The 31-year-old provided the assist for the third goal scored by Mbeumo, thus equalling the Arsenal and Man City legends. However, he just couldn’t find the elusive 21st assist, and it remains to be seen if he’ll be able to set a new record on the final day of the season in Brighton.Want more Stretty News coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trustHowever, Keane didn’t enjoy this spectacle, to say the least. The legendary Man Utd captain was left fuming by Bruno, who admitted that in his post-match interview that he opted against shooting on few occasions in the hopes of grabbing an assist.“I think what I heard around United over the weekend, honestly, I was raging about it. The whole conversation was about his assists, players talking about his assists,” said the former midfielder on the latest episode of The Overlap.“He got interviewed after the game and I was watching him, and everyone was talking about his assists. Even the players were. The whole discussion after the game was about his assists.“The captain of Man United said: ‘Yeah, a few times I probably should have shot, but I made those passes.’ He said it himself: ‘I should have shot, but I made the passes.’“Wow. How can the mindset of a footballer go into a match thinking about an individual record if it happens? He’s going to get those stats anyway, but for it to become the main talking point about Man United’s performance over the weekend, I was cringing. All the players, when he got the assist, were going over to celebrate it. What about the guy who scored the goal?!“Is Keane right in his assessment on Bruno & Man Utd?Over the past few years, Keane has been of Bruno’s biggest detractors. While he has always praised his technical skills, the Irishman has insisted that the 31-year-old lacks the required leadership traits to don the captain’s armband, esepecially at Man Utd.Interestingly, Keane did provide praise for Fernandes before Sunday’s kickoff, labelling his passes as the ‘best in the world’. However, the 54-year-old wasn’t deterred by what his saw during the game, thus changing his tone completely in his latest public appearance.Keane may have a point, as Man Utd and Bruno have indeed prioritised the Portuguese’s personal accolade over the result, which arguably allowed Forest to stay in the game. Had the visitors grabbed another late goal, more people would had echoed the former captain’s rant. Minutes 90 Assists 1 xG 0.19 xA 0.88 Chances created 8 Big chances created 2 Shot accuracy 1/5 (20%) Accurate passes 48/60 (80%) Rating 8.3/10 (Stats via FotMob)But as Gary Neville pointed out in his discussion with Keane, the team had already secured Champions League qualification, and the third place was virtually secured as well, otherwise, the players would have surely been more focused on getting a result rather than ‘assisting’ Fernandes in his personal quest for glory.
“No disrespect”: United icon delivers bold verdict on Fernandes amid comparisons with PL greats
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes is one of the finest midfielders of his generation, and his special achievement this season has seen him compared to two Premier League greats. The Portuguese maestro has been one of the most creative players in the English top flight since arriving at Old Trafford in January 2020. Fernandes has been a consistent performer for the Red Devils ever since, and has been one of the few bright sparks in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era. The 31 year old has already left a lasting impression at the Theatre of Dreams, becoming only the third player after Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney to have scored 100 goals and assists for the club to date. His performances have regularly seen him compared to another Premier League icon, former Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne. The Belgian was also among the most creative players in the league during his stay at the Etihad. In the 2019/20 season, De Bruyne famously equalled Arsenal legend Thierry Henry’s record of most assists (20) in a Premier League campaign. Fernandes has matched that feat this season with one game remaining, despite playing the first half of the season in a deeper role. He could even achieve two new milestones on the final day of the season against Brighton & Hove Albion, sparking intense debate about how the Portuguese compares to De Bruyne and Henry. United legend Rio Ferdinand has now outlined why Fernandes’ achievement deserves a lot more credit. Fernandes deserves better players around him at United Speaking on Rio Ferdinand Presents, Ferdinand explained why it was much harder for Fernandes to match the legendary duo’s feat. He said: “Opposition fans are going to say it is Thierry Henry, who is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, players in Premier League history. Kevin De Bruyne has won countless trophies with Manchester City.” “It always happens that when you are still playing, you don’t always get the flowers you deserve. But when he (Fernandes) retires and you look at the players that De Bruyne and Henry played with, it is a massive difference compared with what Bruno has had at Manchester United.” “No disrespect to those guys, but when you are talking about De Bruyne playing balls into people like Sergio Agüero and Erling Haaland, it is crazy.” Fernandes vs De Bruyne De Bruyne was an established force in the Premier League when Fernandes entered the fray at the start of 2020. The Portuguese regularly locked horns with the Belgian in the Manchester derby, with their creative flair adding a new dimension to the highly followed fixture. Fernandes has faced De Bruyne 14 times in his career, all but one of which were in the Manchester derby. The Portuguese was on the winning side just four times, while the Belgian triumphed on seven occasions. However, Fernandes scored four goals in those encounters, while the City maestro could only manage two. When it comes to silverware, though, there is one clear winner, with De Bruyne lifting 19 trophies during his time at the Etihad. The Portuguese, meanwhile, has only won the FA Cup and EFL Cup so far with United, although one has to admit that he joined the club during a period of extended struggles. Bruno Fernandes Stats: 2025/26 Season CompetitionAppearancesStartsGoalsAssistsYellow CardsRed CardsMinutes Played Premier League34348205-2,978′ FA Cup11-1–90′ EFL Cup10—-45′ Total36358215-3,113′ Source: Transfermarkt. Final Thoughts It is hard to imagine where United would be without Fernandes in the team. Having played a major role in the Red Devils’ recent rise, the Portuguese magnifico now deserves to win the Premier League at Old Trafford. INEOS, as such, must ensure they invest wisely over the summer to build a competitive squad. Most matches with 5+ chances created this PL season: 15 — Bruno Fernandes14131211109876543 — Enzo Fernández, Rayan Cherki pic.twitter.com/hqrIT2teHc — StatMuse FC (@statmusefc) May 17, 2026 Featured image by Molly Darlington/Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.
United hit jackpot in hunt for dream Casemiro successor, massive discount has changed the situation – report
Manchester United witnessed first-hand just how good Elliot Anderson is when they faced Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford. Despite starting as Forest’s deepest midfielder, Anderson was everywhere on the pitch, including in the final third. In addition to his athleticism, his impeccable crossing ability was on display, as he assisted both of his side’s goals in the 3-2 defeat. Old Trafford bid farewell to Casemiro on Sunday and may have caught a glimpse of what is to come next season if United are successful in the transfer market. Manchester United given new hope in Elliot Anderson chase Manchester United are battling with Manchester City for the signature of Elliot Anderson, with Nottingham Forest seemingly resigned to losing the dynamic midfielder they signed from Newcastle United in 2024. Still, Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis is not going to make it easy for Anderson’s suitors. Last month, The Athletic claimed Marinakis has placed a record price tag of £125 million on his head. It has been widely reported that City are in pole position to sign Anderson. However, journalist Paddy Keogh claims United have not given up on the hunt for the 23-year-old. According to Keogh, Forest’s asking price “seems to be softening after being suggested to be around £125m this summer.” Some figures reportedly believe that it could be closer to £100m. “That changes things,” he adds. Gary Neville wants Elliot Anderson at Manchester United Following United’s win over Forest, Gary Neville said United should look to bring in a midfielder like Anderson to replace Casemiro. “Manchester United need to look at players that are either very young and have a hunger to grow or Premier League-ready players and Elliot Anderson is that,” Neville insisted. Elliot Anderson Stats: 2025/26 Season CompetitionAppearancesStartsGoalsAssistsYellow CardsRed CardsMinutes Played Premier League3736448-3,270′ UEFA Europa League128-131833′ Total4944451114,103′ The former defender also praised Anderson’s tendency to look forward and make a difference in the final third. Recently, The Peoples Person relayed a report claiming Anderson favours a move to Old Trafford over the Etihad. With City now set to lose Pep Guardiola, the Red Devils have a real chance of winning the race for the sought-after midfielder. Featured image Jack Thomas via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Vishal Singh Vishal has worked in the football media industry for over six years, planning, writing, and editing content for several major outlets, including North Star Network. Vishal has a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Delhi University. Currently a writer at The Peoples Person, he covers Manchester United — a club he has been religiously following and supporting since 2012. Vishal also manages a leading MUFC fan page, The Red Devils, on Facebook with over a million likes. Big fan of ball-playing centre-backs and Harry Maguire’s knee-slide celebration!
FA discussing major rule change to Youth Cup after fiasco involving United and City this season – report
Manchester United’s academy season was bittersweet. Falling at final hurdle The young Red Devils impressed at both under-18 and under-21 level, playing some swashbuckling football along the way. There is no doubt that the youth set-ups are full of some very impressive young talent, but they fell at the final hurdle across the board. The under-21s finished second in the league and were defeated 0-1 by Brighton and Hove Albion in the Playoff final. The under-18s also finished second in their league but lost two finals. They lost on penalties to Crystal Palace in the Premier League Cup and heartbreakingly lost the FA Youth Cup final 1-2 to Manchester City. Youth Cup fiasco Sadly, it was events off the pitch that made as much noise as those on the field. The organisation of the event was blighted by Manchester City’s refusal to let the game take place at Old Trafford, and the players had to play in the 7,000-seater Joie stadium. United’s coach Darren Fletcher was also critical of how Manchester City conducted themselves after the final, when they called out the names of each player who won a medal and made the United youngsters sit through the entire spectacle. The Scot was also left unimpressed with the Football Association’s lack of involvement and claimed that it felt more like a Manchester City event than an FA one. The Sun now reports that as a result, “the FA are considering a major rule change following the row between Manchester United and Manchester City over this season’s FA Youth Cup final venue.” The current rule is that the club drawn first becomes the home side. The paper states that, “FA officials are reviewing the competition rules to avoid a repeat of the controversy. One proposal being considered would mean that if the designated hosts cannot stage the final at their main stadium, the match could instead be switched to the opposition’s ground.” Featured image Richard Heathcote via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Alex Browne Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Alex has a Master’s degree from Queen’s University Belfast and La Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Tarragona, Spain. Having lived in the country since 2011, Alex is The Peoples Person’s Spanish football expert and is fluent in both Spanish and Catalan. He dreams of witnessing a United captain triumphantly hoisting the Premier League and Champions League trophy in the air once more.
United Women learn opponents they will need to vanquish to win World Sevens Football
Manchester United Women’s season has now come to an end, but there is still a chance to see the club’s players in action before the summer break. World Sevens Football Marc Skinner’s side took part in the inaugural tournament last summer, held in Portugal. World Sevens Football (W7F) is a women’s association football competition series format which features existing clubs playing professional seven-a-side football. United made it through the group stage, defeating AS Roma, SL Benfica and Paris Saint-Germain. They also overcame local rivals Manchester City. They did end up losing the final 2-1 to Bayern Munich but made a very strong impression. In particular, Simi Awujo won the competition’s Breakout Star award. 2026 edition United will also take part in this year’s edition, which is being held at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium. Matches will take place between 28 and 30 May. Groups announced The Guardian has reported that the two groups have been announced, and United now know which opponents they must overcome to reach the knockout phase. Group one will consist of Chelsea, London City, Everton and Leicester City. United will be in Group two, where they will take on Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa and West Ham United. Having finished above all three other teams, United will surely fancy their chances of winning the group. United Women drew 3-3 and 0-0 with Tottenham Hotspur this season in the league, but did defeat them 2-1 in the League Cup when Swede Fridolina Rolfo grabbed the winning goal. United did lose 1-0 at home to Aston Villa but responded with a 4-1 victory at Villa Park. Finally, United drew 0-0 with West Ham United but also won 2-1 at home back in December. Chelsea will play in World Sevens Football from 28-30 May.Here are the full groups: Group 1 – Chelsea, London City, Everton, Leicester City Group 2 – Man Utd, Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, West Ham — Tom Garry (@TomJGarry) May 18, 2026 Featured image Gualter Fatia via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Alex Browne Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Alex has a Master’s degree from Queen’s University Belfast and La Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Tarragona, Spain. Having lived in the country since 2011, Alex is The Peoples Person’s Spanish football expert and is fluent in both Spanish and Catalan. He dreams of witnessing a United captain triumphantly hoisting the Premier League and Champions League trophy in the air once more.
Official: United Women duo’s incredible season recognised with places in WSL Team of the Season
Manchester United Women endured a disappointing end to the season. Rollercoaster Marc Skinner’s side started the season really well and were in the top two for a significant portion of the campaign. Unfortunately, they fell away in the spring and finished fourth, meaning they missed out on European football for next season. They did reach the final of the League Cup for the first time but lost to Chelsea and were also knocked out of the FA Cup by the same opponent. The Red Devils impressed the most in the Champions League, reaching the quarter-final in their debut campaign. Two standout players Jess Park, a summer signing from Manchester City, was a breath of fresh air around the club and quickly became talismanic for the club. She won numerous Player of the Month awards, goal of the month awards and was named both the Fans’ and Players’ Player of the Year. Park was once again acknowledged for her outstanding season as she was named in the 2025/2026 Women’s Super League Team of the Season. The 24-year-old played 22 matches, scoring six goals and providing five assists. ⭐️ Two stellar campaigns ⭐️@MayaLeTissier and Jess Park have been named in the 2025/26 #WSL Team of the Season 👏😍 pic.twitter.com/GQ83w4ltDN — Manchester United Women (@ManUtdWomen) May 18, 2026 Manchester United captain Maya Le Tissier was also named in the team after another impressive display. The club’s official website wrote, “our captain, Le Tissier, played every minute of United’s 22 league games this season, a model of consistency, professionalism and leadership at the back. The centre-back has also been key creatively: progressing the ball out of defence, converting a penalty to notch her only WSL goal this season, and providing two assists – all, coincidentally, across our two meetings with London City Lionesses.” Le Tissier also impressively went a third straight season without missing a match for the Red Devils in an incredible display of durability. Every minute of every game. For the third season in a row.@MayaLeTissier is built different 🔋🦾 pic.twitter.com/olQKPDGJPm — Manchester United Women (@ManUtdWomen) May 17, 2026 Phallon Tullis-Joyce was also rewarded for her season but not on the pitch, in spite of another strong year. The American was presented with the WSL’s Champion of Change award, which recognises players who positively influence good causes. The keeper has been involved in numerous causes to promote environmental sustainability within the local community. Jess Park WSL 25/26 season stats Games playedGoalsAssistsMins played 22651739 Source: Fotmob.com Featured image Ben Roberts Photo via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Alex Browne Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Alex has a Master’s degree from Queen’s University Belfast and La Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Tarragona, Spain. Having lived in the country since 2011, Alex is The Peoples Person’s Spanish football expert and is fluent in both Spanish and Catalan. He dreams of witnessing a United captain triumphantly hoisting the Premier League and Champions League trophy in the air once more.
United “confident” of selling INEOS signing in the summer despite his desire to stay and fight for his place – report
Manchester United need to be ruthless when it comes to offloading players in the summer in order to afford all of their top targets. The goal must be to earn a profit from sales and Joshua Zirkzee has been earmarked for an exit after a disappointing couple of seasons at Old Trafford. He is not a natural goalscorer, with the Dutchman registering a mere two goals this season and nine overall in his two campaigns in England. The 24-year-old possesses a deft touch and some silky smooth moves, but that cannot compensate for the lack of hunger and application out on the pitch. Joshua Zirkzee has been a failure at United His recent performance against Sunderland when given a rare opportunity to start, and his cameo against Nottingham Forest were ample proof that INEOS need to cut their losses. While the Netherlands international would like to stay and fight for his place, he simply has not done enough to justify a third season in red. The Red Devils need a proven goalscorer to back up Benjamin Sesko, and INEOS are reportedly eyeing an experienced option in the market. The 20-time English league champions signed Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna for £36.5 million, and they could raise close to that amount given he has suitors both in England and Italy. Return to Serie A on the cards “Manchester United are confident of selling Joshua Zirkzee this summer amid interest from multiple Serie A clubs, sources have told Football Insider. “The 24-year-old has been way down the pecking order and has rarely started for Man United this season, and could be allowed to leave in search of first-team football. “Having impressed in Serie A before his big-money move to Old Trafford in 2024, there is a growing feeling a return to Italy could be the best move for him.” Everton, AS Roma and Juventus are among the sides in the race, and it will be interesting to see how much INEOS can earn from his sale and where Joshua Zirkzee ultimately ends up. Feature image George Wood via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Ayantan Chowdhury After failing to become a professional footballer, Ayantan switched to the next best thing: writing about the greatest football club in the world. He has extensive sports journalism experience, having worked for over 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25
Fabrizio Romano reveals Man Utd’s ‘secret dream’ to replace Michael Carrick
Some people at Manchester United were hoping to sign Luis Enrique as their next permanent manager before settling on Michael Carrick.While we’re still awaiting the official announcement, the Red Devils have all but agreed to confirm Carrick for next season.DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL STRETTY NEWS APP FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES & BREAKING NEWS – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAYThe former England midfielder has been highly effective since taking over from Ruben Amorim in January. His appointment as interim coach proved to be the right call, as he succeeded in guiding the team back to the Champions League and has already guaranteed a Top 3 finish.However, Carrick wasn’t necessarily everyone’s first choice for the role.Man United dreamed about signing Luis EnriqueAs reported in recent months, Carrick’s chances have been boosted by the lack of top names available on the market, including Luis Enrique, who has been linked with the MUFC role.Nevertheless, it is understood that the Spanish tactician is close to reaching an agreement with Paris Saint-Germain to extend his contract beyond 2027.The former Real Madrid and Barcelona star has been delivering sensational results since arriving in the French capital in 2023. He has already guided PSG towards their first Champions League trophy last season, and they’ll be looking to replicate this achievement when they meet Arsenal in the final next week.Want more Stretty News coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trustBut according to Fabrizio Romano, ‘important’ people at Man United considered Enrique their ‘secret dream’. The Italian journalist revealed as much in the latest video posted on his official YouTube channel.Between January and February, these MUFC officials tried to lay the groundwork to bring the Spaniard to Carrington. However, they gave up after realising that the 56-year-old is destined to stay at PSG.Entrusting Michael Carrick was the best plausible choice for Man UtdDespite their struggles over the past few years, Man Utd remain one of the biggest clubs in the world, and it is only normal that they pursue the most renowned managers in the sport.Nevertheless, the circumstances can always prompt the hierarchy to take a different direction. In addition to Enrique, United also found the doors closed for other top names, like Carlo Ancelotti, Thomas Tuchel, and Julian Nagelsmann, who could be set to stay with their current national teams, or at least won’t be available until the end of the World Cup, thus ruling them out of the running.But the good news for MUFC is that they found themselves a potent coach in Carrick, who hasn’t done anything to hurt his chances over the past five months. On the contrary, the Wallsend native has ticked every box by producing impressive results, an improved brand of football, looking after the academy, and avoiding all sorts of controversy and unwanted attention.All in all, the lack of big names has certainly boosted Carrick’s case, but he also did his part formidably.
Just in: Romano confirms veteran with 116 EPL appearances has accepted Man Utd offer
Manchester United have reportedly reached an agreement with Tom Heaton, who will soon sign a contract extension.The English goalkeeper is a MUFC youth product who couldn’t find enough space during Sir Alex Ferguson’s era.DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL STRETTY NEWS APP FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES & BREAKING NEWS – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAYAfter a series of loan spells, he was released in 2010 and went on to play for Cardiff, Bristol City, Burnley, and Aston Villa.Tom Heaton accepts new Man Utd contactIn the summer of 2021, Heaton made his return to Man Utd, initially acting as third-choice for David De Gea and Dean Henderson.The Chester native has only made three competitive appearances in his second spell at the club, all coming in the Carabao Cup. Nevertheless, Heaton’s significance to the cause goes beyond his contribution on the pitch, as he is considered an important locker-room figure.Want more Stretty News coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trustTherefore, United have decided to keep the 40-year-old for another year, offering him a new contract.According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Heaton has accepted the Red Devils’ offer, so he is now set to pen a new deal valid until June 2027. 🚨 Tom Heaton has agreed to sign a new one year deal at Man United, until June 2027. pic.twitter.com/aeuR6fcoIR — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 18, 2026Who will complete United’s goalkeeping deparment alongside Lammens & Heaton?With Heaton’s future secured, United still have to figure out who will be Senne Lammens’ understudy for next season.The Belgian enjoyed an impressive first campaign at Old Trafford, swiftly becoming a fan favourite among the club’s supporters.However, the club will need a solid second choice, especially ahead of their return to the Champions League.Altay Bayindir hasn’t always convinced, and he’s expected to end his three-year stint at Carrington and return to Turkiye. Besiktas are said to be keen to secure his services.Andre Onana will return from a positive loan spell at Trabzonspor, but Man Utd will be determined to offload the Cameroonian, who endured two woeful seasons at the club, filled with costly errors.Man Utd loanee Radek Vitek could be the best answer after his exploits at Bristol City. However, the 22-year-old Czech is reportedly aiming for a first-choice role.Therefore, INEOS might have to recruit a new goalkeeper in the summer.
