Manchester United are reportedly more inclined to keep Elyh Harrison, given the uncertainty surrounding the future of their goalkeeping department. However, Radek Vitek could be sold to help fund new signings.
United’s goalkeeping setup is expected to undergo significant changes this summer, with both Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir likely to leave.
Onana and his deputy, Bayindir, have made numerous high-profile mistakes this season that have dearly cost United in both the Premier League and cup competitions. There is an acceptance that Ruben Amorim and the team could benefit from a safer pair of hands ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
If either or both of them leave, United will almost certainly look to the market for replacements.
It was initially thought that veteran shot-stopper Tom Heaton would exit Old Trafford upon the expiry of his contract in June but it was recently revealed that he is in talks with the club regarding a potential one-year extension.
Now, the Daily Mail has provided more details on United’s goalkeeping plans, with a focus on two of their academy keepers – Elyh Harrison and Radek Vitek.
Harrison joined United from Stevenage in the summer of 2022. He spent the first half of this season on loan at Chester before returning to Carrington in January.
The highly-rated England youth international has made 30 appearances this term across all competitions and kept nine clean sheets in that period. He has featured in a number of United matchday squads but has yet to make his senior debut.
Meanwhile, Vitek’s pre-season heroics earned him a loan move to Austrian Bundesliga side BW Linz last summer and he has been the side’s undisputed first-choice since. He has enjoyed a fantastic time at BW Linz, amassing six clean sheets in 23 top-flight games.
Asked whether Harrison is likely to stay at United beyond the summer or head out on loan again, the Mail responded, “Harrison is a really interesting case and one that is a cause of much debate internally at the club. Firstly, he is very highly rated by both coaches in the academy but also coaches in the first team having worked more and more with goalkeeping coach Jorge Vital in recent months.”
“There is great uncertainty in the goalkeeper position generally at Manchester United heading into next season and as a result Harrison may be retained at the club, rather than sent on loan.”
“Hubert Graczyk is a familiar face in training pictures but he is merely a training goalkeeper with little to no prospect of ever playing in the first team, while Radek Vitek, who spent the past season on loan in Austria, could be sold as part of a fundraising mission to refresh Ruben Amorim’s side.”
“We spoke to a United staffer earlier this week and their gut feel at this very moment is that Harrison is more likely to stick around as cover than head out on loan.”
However, the newspaper notes that if Harrison were to go out on loan, a split arrangement -where he’d spend the first few months in Leage Two and then finish the season in League One – should not be entirely ruled out.
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Derick Kinoti
Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the game extensively for many years. He is a keen analyst with expertise in SEO and journalism standards. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!
