Manchester United are allegedly aiming to snap up Leeds United shot-stopper Karl Darlow as a reliable backup to Senne Lammens this summer.
Darlow, 35, relished a fine 2025-26 campaign for Leeds, helping the promoted side comfortably avoid relegation last month. He leapfrogged both Lucas Perri and Illan Meslier in the pecking order over the last five months, helping Leeds lose just four of their last 17 Premier League games.
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The former Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest goalkeeper made 24 overall appearances for the Daniel Farke-coached outfit last campaign. He conceded only 29 goals, recording five clean sheets in the process.
Now, according to The Athletic, Manchester United are interested in bringing in an experienced, homegrown goalkeeper this summer. They are highly likely to offload both Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir, who has drawn attention from Turkey of late, in the summer transfer window.
With Darlow’s Leeds deal set to expire later this month, the Red Devils could opt to sign the Welshman on a Bosman move this summer. They are in a position to offer the former Aston Villa youth player a good pay hike and the possibility of European participation in the next season.
Premier League icon urges goalkeeper to leave Manchester United this summer
Chelsea great Petr Cech has asserted that Manchester United loanee Radek Vitek should seek a move away from the Red Devils for the betterment of his career. He told BBC Sport last month (h/t Metro):
“It’s important to play. Of course, there are situations where sometimes you know that you have a big chance to come back and fight for your position. That’s a different thing. But as it stands at United, Lammens has done really well. I’m sure (Vitek) will want to go somewhere and continue playing.”
Commenting more on his compatriot, Cech concluded:
“It’s great to see him progress because playing for the Under-21s with United is one thing, but then he played men’s football in Austria (at Blau-Weiss Linz), which went really well for him, then he came back to England with Bristol City and did well there. That obviously gives him an opportunity to attract even attention from teams in the Premier League.”
Vitek, 22, has been on Manchester United‘s books since the summer of 2020, but he has yet to feature in a senior match for them. He enjoyed a breakout season at EFL Championship side Bristol City last season, keeping 12 shutouts in 41 overall outings during his season-long loan.
Edited by Debkalpa Banerjee