Vitek ready for Man Utd exit

Manchester United goalkeeper Radek Vitek says he hopes to resolve his future quickly as he looks to secure a move away from Old Trafford.

After encouraging loan spells at Accrington Stanley and in the Austrian Bundesliga, Vitek excelled at Bristol City last season, winning three club player of the year awards.

While some United fans hoped that would signal a return to the club as deputy to first-choice goalkeeper Senne Lammens this season, that was never under consideration.

It had been expected that Vitek would find a new club before pre-season began.

That has not happened, and the Czech goalkeeper kept a clean sheet during the second half of the 1-0 defeat to Wrexham in Helsinki.

It remains to be seen whether Vitek will also be involved on 24 July when United travel to Norway to face Rosenborg.

However, he is clear that his current situation is only temporary.

“I’m ready to go somewhere again and hopefully be number one,” he said.

Asked whether that would be another loan move or a permanent transfer, Vitek replied: “I’m ready for both, to be fair. It depends on what the club wants and also on the options.

“There has been a few interests on the table. We’re hoping to choose the best one and hopefully it will happen soon.”

Speaking to BBC Sport in March, Vitek said his main objective was to play regularly.

Nothing has changed.

“My mind is the same,” he said. “I want to play every week and that’s the goal for next season.”

Minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has previously complained about United’s inability to generate significant funds through the sale of academy players.

They may be able to achieve that with Vitek, which is why a permanent transfer remains a possibility despite the goalkeeper having two years remaining on his contract, rather than another loan spell.

However, any deal would almost certainly include a substantial sell-on clause and a buy-back option.

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