Bristol boss Gerhard Struber sends Radek Vitek transfer plea to United | OneFootball

Bristol City boss Gerhard Struber has stated he would love to continue working with Radek Vitek, but the final decision on his future ultimately rests with Manchester United.

Vitek’s City loan spell

Vitek joined City last summer on loan from United. The Red Devils made the decision to send him somewhere to gain regular first-team minutes.

United’s signing of Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp made it even clearer that Vitek would have found it hard to break into the first team. Vitek wasted no time in rendering himself City’s first-choice goalkeeper.

The 22-year-old has made 33 Championship appearances this season, conceding 42 goals and keeping nine clean sheets in that period. As the summer transfer window draws nearer, City seem to have already turned their attention to Vitek’s situation and begun deliberations over his long-term prospects.

Struber spoke to BristolLive and emphasised that he would like Vitek to remain at the club for at least another season.

He noted that such a move would also prove beneficial to the 22-year-old’s development.

Struber’s plea

The 49-year-old coach said that United are in the “driver’s seat” with regard to Vitek’s future.

He told BristolLive, “His presence, how he saves balls, how his mentality is growing to be, in this Bristol City team, not only the goalkeeper. He is a key player.”

“We develop him in this direction, with the game time and, of course, with his ability and his professional attitude. At the same time, I think we could find so many things that he could do better because he’s so young. When you could work with him for the next few years, he has the door open for one of the best leagues in the world.”

“For me, he made interesting steps, especially when I compare him to the season in Austria when he played with Linz. He’s made really big steps, but his presence next to the backline, he gives a safety feeling. I would love it when we would have him here longer.”

The Robins boss continued, “I think Radek was a really good deal with Manchester United. [It was] a really big win-win in the end for Radek Vitek, for Manchester United and of course, also, for Bristol City.”

“Of course, I would love that Radek would stay here, and we have no topic in the goalkeeper position. On the same time, of course, we have to look really deep right now. Now is the time we can search and be creative, also for loanees also to be ready for a permanent deal.”

“In more directions, we have to be here, really open-minded and not close the door [so that] maybe we could only loan. think this is not the way I would go.”

“It’s a very big motorway where we drive and search for a goalkeeper, but hopefully, maybe, Radek will join us another year.”

Meanwhile, United return to action on Friday when they go away to Bournemouth. The game kicks off at 8pm.

Feature image Ed Sykes via Getty Images

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