Manchester United’s loan army this season is 16-strong after a busy January window saw many departures, from the senior team as well as the academy.
Marcus Rashford headlined the loan departures while Antony and Tyrell Malacia joined him from the first-team picture.
There were many departures in the academy too, from Joe Hugill to Ethan Williams and Ethan Ennis all finding an opportunity for senior football.
Gone under the radar has been a loan move that happened in the summer which is arguably turning into the biggest win for Man Utd.
Radek Vitek’s imperious performance vs LASK
Radek Vitek was the hero of Man Utd’s pre-season but the club’s goalkeeping situation meant he was always going to go out on loan this season.
Having already received experience of, and impressed in senior football with Accrington Stanley, he took a big jump and joined Austrian Bundesliga side BW Linz this season.
Vitek started amazingly at BW Linz before an injury halted his momentum. However, he came back and took his first-choice place and performed like he never left.
LASK will probably hate the sight of him after his recent display in the Linz derby added to Vitek’s previous MOTM display against the rivals.
In their recent match, Vitek finished as the MOTM again as BW Linz battled out a goalless draw with ten men, Vitek standing tall between the posts.
He finished with four saves, eight throws, 13 recoveries, and a blinding 50 touches despite being the goalkeeper, showing his array of ball-playing as well as shot-stopping skills.
He was the main reason why BW Linz escaped with a draw in this one as he continued his imperious run of form.
Vitek giving Ineos a decision to make
It’s a good headache for the club but a headache nonetheless because Vitek is surpassing the most optimistic expectations set for him.
This loan in the Austrian Bundesliga has been an unqualified success which means that only a Premier League loan next season will be enough to tempt Vitek.
His United contract expires in 2027 so the club has, at most, one more year of seeing him challenged on loan before they need to make a decision on him.
What Vitek’s rapid rise has done is probably put it in his mind to get clarity over his future permanently instead of gambling on another loan move.
Ruben Amorim needs to be brave and make a decision to include him as the challenger to Andre Onana by selling Altay Bayindir, while Tom Heaton will probably retire.
Vitek is already good enough to be in that position.
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