Accrington Stanley Close To Signing Premier League Goalkeeper

League Two side Accrington Stanley are now close to signing Manchester United goalkeeper Radek Vitek, according to the Manchester Evening News.

Manchester United have now agreed to send the Czech Republic goalkeeper on loan to Accrington Stanley for the remainder of the season, having yet to make an appearance in any competition so far this season. A loan has been deemed the best option for his development.

The Reds have already sent several players on loan to EFL clubs so far in this window, with Dan Gore joining Port Vale, Joe Hugill moving to Burton Albion and Rhys Bennett heading out to Stockport County.

Vitek signed for United in July of 2020 from Czech side Sigma Olomouc. He has since made over 100 appearances at youth level for the club’s U18s and U23s as well as the UEFA Youth League selection.

Accrington currently sit 12th in League Two, seven points off the playoff spots. The side have yet to decide on a starting number and were forced into an emergency loan signing as recently as last month for QPR goalkeeper Joe Walsh. This came after previous emergency loanee Jon McCracken suffered an injury and had to return to Norwich City.

Walsh has since extended that emergency loan, but Stanley are set to dip into the loan market again to land a goalkeeper on the books of a Premier League club. United currently have three goalkeepers ahead of Vitek in the pecking order at the club; Tom Heaton, Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir.

The League Two side are hopeful a deal can be completed before the weekend so the player can be in the squad to face Forest Green Rovers on Saturday. He will be the ninth player to leave United on loan within the January transfer window.

In regards to the structure of the deal, it will be a straight loan with no option to buy, with the player returning to his parent club when the loan ends.

Writer’s View

Vitek has been a composed figure between the sticks for several years at youth level for United, and he is a great candidate to come in and help the goalkeeping situation at the Wham stadium. He has been training with the first team for some time and has experience alongside international goalkeepers in Onana and Bayindir.

It’s a smart deal for Accrington and a good chance for the player to showcase his ability in a difficult league.

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