Michael Carrick should stop Championship side Middlesbrough from trying to sign one of the emerging talents in his Manchester United squad at Old Trafford.
The 44-year-old Manchester United legend is all too familiar with Middlesbrough after he kicked off his managerial career at the Riverside Stadium in 2022.
Michael Carrick was praised for his managerial work at the Championship club before the United manager was dismissed from his post at Middlesbrough in 2025.
The former United midfielder bounced back through his Old Trafford return, but Middlesbrough have now turned their attention to one of his players: Radek Vitek.
Is Radek Vitek READY to be playing for Manchester United?
Can he challenge Lammens? Or does he need another loan?
Michael Carrick faces a challenge from Middlesbrough over an attempt to lure Radek Vitek from Man Utd
Radek Vitek has featured in Manchester United’s pre-season opener against Wrexham after he came off the bench and replaced Tom Heaton for the second half.
Michael Carrick turned to Vitek to start Man Utd’s encounter with Rosenborg at the weekend and the Red Devils thrashed the Norwegian outfit 5-0 in Trondheim.
Vitek is being afforded invaluable United first-team minutes during the pre-season campaign amid the absence of Senne Lammens due to his World Cup activity.
However, Sky Sports now reported that Carrick’s former side Middlesbrough are ‘interested’ in bringing the 22-year-old Czech shot-stopper to the Riverside Stadium.
Vitek is keen to secure regular playing time for the 2026-27 campaign and the Man Utd talent is expected to leave permanently or move again on loan.
What should Man Utd do with Radek Vitek in 2026/27?
Middlesbrough would be a regression for Radek Vitek when there are Premier League clubs linked with the Man Utd talent
A United youth academy product, Vitek has had loan spells at Accrington Stanley, BW Linz and Bristol City since his arrival at Old Trafford back in 2020.
Vitek deeply impressed in the Championship in the 2025-26 season during his spell with Bristol City after he kept 12 clean sheets in 41 appearances for the club.
With much-needed Championship experience under his belt, a return to England’s second-best domestic football league would not achieve much for Vitek now.
It now feels natural for Man Utd to explore loaning the former Bristol City and Accrington Stanley player to a Premier League club instead of Middlesbrough.
According to The Daily Mail in June, Premier League sides Hull City, Coventry City and Ipswich Town have all shown an interest in landing Vitek’s services.
Vitek’s development must extend to playing in one of Europe’s top-tier club competitions now — if possible — or having a consistent run in the Premier League.
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