Radek Vitek transfer truth emerges - Middlesbrough may have to pay stunning 8-figure fee | OneFootball

Middlesbrough are closing in on the signing of Manchester United goalkeeper Radek Vitek

Middlesbrough are set to make another eight-figure splash this summer, as Manchester United goalkeeper Radek Vitek is set to join Kim Hellberg's side for up to £14 million, if all add-ons are met.

Boro are eager to go one further than last season's play-off final defeat in the upcoming campaign and secure their Premier League return after a decade in the Championship.

And despite losing academy product and reigning Championship Player of the Year, Hayden Hackney, early on in the window to Everton, the higher-ups at the Riverside have been hard at work improving areas where the side failed last term in Kim Hellberg's first half-season in charge.

Middlesbrough won only four of their final 18 games last year, including the play-offs, mainly due to a lack of clinical finishing and opponents taking the few chances they created against their defence.

The signing of Will Lankshear from Tottenham Hotspur, which could become a record deal for the Teesiders, has them set up top, and the imminent arrival of Vitek should ensure that they concede even fewer than they did last season, too.

How much Middlesbrough are paying for Manchester United goalkeeper Radek Vitek

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Vitek is coming off a breakout campaign for Bristol City in the Championship last season on loan from Premier League giants Manchester United.

He returned to Manchester with a desire to remain a first-choice goalkeeper, though, and with Senne Lammens the clear number one option for Michael Carrick, a move for the 22-year-old was likely this summer.

Middlesbrough have been the side to bring Vitek in and, according to Sky Sports' Keith Downie, he'll cost the Teesiders up to £14 million if all add-ons are completed. Further, Manchester United have inserted a 35% sell-on clause and a buy-back clause, too.

The Czech shot-stopper is very highly rated among footballing circles, so the Red Devils have ensured that, if he excels at the Riverside to the point where he could become the first-choice keeper at Old Trafford, they'll have first reserve on him.

Otherwise, if he leaves Middlesbrough, United will still be in line to make even more money from the future sale.

Radek Vitek will be a massive upgrade on Sol Brynn for Middlesbrough

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On face value, the goalkeeper position arguably wasn't a major cause for concern for Middlesbrough last season. Only Coventry City conceded more goals than Boro last year, and only Carl Rushworth and Christian Walton kept more clean sheets than Sol Brynn.

That was arguably more down to the strength of the defence at the Riverside last season, though, rather than a brilliant campaign for Brynn, despite moments of quality.

The 25-year-old conceded 6.6 more goals than Boro's expected goals against suggested he should have - the fourth-worst tally in the Championship. Only two goalkeepers made fewer saves per 90 minutes, too, indicating general strength across the backline.

Additionally, Brynn was partly at fault for the winning goal for Hull City against Middlesbrough in the play-off final in May, parrying a tame Yu Hirakawa cross into Oli McBurnie's path to score the only goal of the game.

Meanwhile, last season, Vitek made the second-most saves per 90 in the division, and his 5.4 goals prevented compared to the expected goals against Bristol City conceded was the fourth-best out of his goalkeeping peers.

How Middlesbrough fans have reacted to Radek Vitek breakthrough

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This last month has been incredibly positive on the transfer front for Middlesbrough, after what seemed to be a very slow, pessimistic opening to the window.

The arrivals of Lankshear, Kyle Joseph, Max Arfsten and Sebastian Berhalter have helped build anticipation for the upcoming campaign, and the reports that Vitek's arrival is imminent have only stoked that further.

"I’ve not been this excited about a summer transfer window since ‘95 when we signed Nick Barmby from Spurs. Unbelievable," one Boro fan said on X in response to Keith Downie's report.

"7 million official fee rising to 14 with add-ons. Sensational business imo," another Boro fan commented. "Jesus wept, we are spending," one added, almost in disbelief at the fact Middlesbrough are really making a fist of improving the squad ahead of the new campaign.

And, to make matters even sweeter for Middlesbrough fans, a Bristol City supporter labelled the move the "signing of the window." It's safe to say that expectations are high for the Czech shot-stopper.

The only thing that Middlesbrough will have to be wary of is Manchester United buying him back in a few years if he performs well at the Riverside. But in the short term, if he can help push Boro over the line into the Premier League, the deal will be a success.