Radek Vitek to Middlesbrough: Details emerge on what United will pocket from the deal | OneFootball

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Radek Vitek is set to move to Championship side Middlesbrough from Manchester United. Unfortunately, the highly rated goalkeeper’s dream of playing a key role for the Red Devils is not coming to fruition.

His brilliant loan spell at Bristol City, where he swept their end-of-season awards, should have steered him closer to becoming the 20-time English champions’ number one.

However, while Vitek was impressing with the Robins, Senne Lammens was quickly cementing his spot as United’s number one.

The Belgian was so good that he massively elevated United’s goalkeeping department with his superior displays.

By the end of the season, it was simple and clear: United had found their next great number one: Lammens. His picking up the Premier Signing of the Season award further reinforced his status between the sticks at Old Trafford.

Radek Vitek had to contend with deputising for Lammens

Ultimately, if Vitek were to stay and play for United this new season, he would have to contend with deputising for the club’s number 31.

The Czech goalkeeper, however, would have none of that, hinting he felt ready for a key role.

INEOS, therefore, decided it was better he left, and yesterday news broke that he was set to move to Middlesbrough.

Interestingly, while news of the transfer broke, something was missing: the finer details of the deal.

Details of Vitek to Middlesbrough deal

We now know what has been agreed. According to The Sun, “an upfront fee of around £6m has been agreed with the Red Devils – but Manchester United have a buy-back clause in the package.”

Meanwhile, Sky Sports’ Danyal Khan revealed the full scope of the deal:

“Radek Vitek on his way to Middlesbrough in deal worth up to £14m (with bonuses). Man United retain a 35% sell-on + matching rights & buy-back option.”

A £14 million total package plus a sell-on clause is not such a poor deal, though some would still argue United could have secured better terms had they played their cards right.

Either way, with the agreement now sealed, it remains a wait-and-see situation as to whether Vitek lives up to his potential and earns that big move that delivers United a decent transfer windfall, or whether INEOS ultimately decide to bring him back to M16.

The Peoples Person Reliability Assessment

Overall credibility: 8/10 Why? ✅ The transfer move has been widely reported, with only official confirmation now awaited ✅ Details and outlook of the deal struck have been corroborated by two reliable sources

TPP view

We believe that Manchester United and Middlesbrough have both made compromises to reach an agreement, which should finally give Vitek what he has always wanted: guaranteed game time.