While Senne Lammens has been a revelation for Manchester United since his deadline-day arrival from Royal Antwerp, the club’s goalkeeping department is still far from settled. As the 2026 summer window approaches, a major shake-up is looming at Old Trafford and the answer might already be on the club’s books in Radek Vitek.
The Backup Crisis: Onana and Bayindir Out?
The current situation behind Lammens is precarious. Altay Bayindir has failed to convince during his opportunities this season and is heavily linked with a return to Turkey. Meanwhile, Andre Onana, currently on loan at Trabzonspor, is expected to be sold permanently, and veteran Tom Heaton is nearing retirement at 40.
This leaves United in desperate need of a reliable deputy or a genuine challenger for Lammens.
Radek Vitek: The Robins’ Hero
Currently on loan at Bristol City, 22-year-old Radek Vitek has taken the Championship by storm. Originally signed as cover, his performances were so dominant that he displaced Max O’Leary as the Robins’ Number One.
- Shot-Stopping: Vitek has earned a reputation for “outrageous” saves, proving he can handle the physical demands of English football.
- Consistency: With 9 clean sheets in 26 appearances, he has become one of the most statistically impressive keepers in the second tier.
Lammens vs. Vitek: The 2025/26 Battle
The data suggests that the gap between United’s current starter and their returning loanee is remarkably slim. In fact, Vitek leads in key metrics like save percentage and average rating.
| Player | Club | Matches | Save % | Clean Sheets |
| Senne Lammens | Man Utd | 20 | 62.9% | 4 |
| Radek Vitek | Bristol City | 26 | 69.7% | 9 |
The INEOS Strategy
As United looks to balance the books under the INEOS regime, promoting Vitek to the first-team squad makes perfect strategic sense. Rather than spending big on a secondary keeper, United can “unleash” a homegrown talent who is already adapted to the pace of the English game.
Vitek won’t just return to sit on the bench; his form suggests he is ready to push Lammens for the starting spot in the 2026/27 campaign.
Thiago Nuno is a football editor and analyst covering European leagues, match statistics, and transfer market trends.
