Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing Botafogo goalkeeper John Victor with neither of Ruben Amorim’s senior goalkeepers – Andre Onana or Altay Bayindir – having impressed since the Portuguese coach arrived in November to replace Erik ten Hag.
The Need for a New Pair of Hands
Both shot stoppers committed cardinal errors in multiple matches last season with the sense of unease an unsteady goalkeeper produces infecting a defence like a virus.
In an ideal world, United would sign two new options to replace the existing pair. But the club’s transfer budget this summer is set to be directed towards the misfiring forward line as Amorim has identified this as the key weakness in his team.
Matheus Cunha has already been signed from Wolverhampton Wanderers for £62.5 million while United appear on the verge of agreeing a similarly priced deal with Brentford for Bryan Mbeumo.
A new number nine is also considered an urgent priority with the potential options – Viktor Gyokeres, Victor Osimhen, Benjamin Sesko and Hugo Ekitike – all set to cost in excess of £60 million as well.
This leaves little room in the budget for a new number one, let alone a new number two, with Bayindir expected to leave this summer.
If Onana was sold to the Middle East, with Saudi Pro League sides expressing interest in the Cameroon international, this would help facilitate the finances to secure a replacement.
But the 29-year-old goalkeeper appears intent on staying at Old Trafford next season and re-establishing his previous form at Inter Milan and Ajax.
As such, a cheaper option to replace Bayindir and provide competition, rather than an outright upgrade, for Onana is being considered – and Victor appears to fit the bill perfectly.
A Bargain Deal for a Long-term Target
United have dispatched scouts to watch Victor in action for Brazilian side Botafogo at the Club World Cup this month after identifying the 29-year-old goalkeeper as target last winter.
Victor played a key part in helping Botafogo win a Copa Libertadores and Brazilian league double last year. This put a number of clubs on red-alert over the Brazilian shot stopper, including United and Premier League rival Tottenham Hotspur.
Football Insider reveals the Red Devils’ scouts have been “impressed” with Victor’s in America as he helped keep a clean sheet against European champions Paris-Saint Germain. “Only the second man to shutout the French side after Liverpool’s Alisson this year,” the report states.
“John is understood to have a clause allowing him to leave for as little as $8million (£5.8m) this summer after he agreed to stay at with the Brazilian side to play at the Club World Cup despite having offers to leave for Europe in January.
“The six foot five inch stopper joined Botafogo in 2024 after initially starting out at Santos, and he has previous experience of European football after featuring on loan at Segunda Division side Real Vallodolid in 2023/24.”
£5.8 million is a price range United can afford despite their lavish outlay on the forward line, particularly if an exit is found for Bayindir, and it secures the club a long-term target in a position of acute weakness for Amorim.
Featured image Buda Mendes via Getty Images
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Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
