Manchester United are reportedly open to sanctioning the departure of goalkeeper Altay Bayindir this summer, with the club already identifying a potential replacement for the Turkish international.
Bayindir, 26, joined the Red Devils in the summer of 2023 in a £4.3 million deal, arriving with a strong reputation forged during his time at Fenerbahce.
However, despite big-money signing Andre Onana experiencing some inconsistent performances between the sticks, Bayindir has been unable to dislodge him from the number one spot.
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Consequently, the Turkish shot-stopper has spent the majority of the past two seasons on the bench.
He made only six appearances across all competitions this season, though he did earn significant praise for his “top-class” display in the FA Cup third-round tie against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, a performance that even Gunners boss Mikel Arteta lauded as “outstanding.”
Nevertheless, sources close to Stretty News [relayed by Yahoo Sport] indicate that Bayindir’s time at Old Trafford is nearing its end.
The goalkeeper is expected to be granted permission to leave in pursuit of a more prominent role elsewhere, with United reportedly setting an asking price in the region of £6-7 million for his services.
Fortuitously for Bayindir, a lack of interested parties is unlikely to be an issue. Several clubs across Europe are reportedly keen on acquiring him, including admirers from the Premier League, LaLiga, and three Serie A outfits.
His limited game time at Old Trafford has seemingly not deterred these suitors, who still believe he possesses the quality to replicate the impressive performances he consistently delivered during his years at Fenerbahce.
As for Manchester United, sources confirm that the INEOS group, now overseeing football operations, have identified Burnley’s James Trafford as the ideal profile to succeed Bayindir.
The 22-year-old England international has reportedly delivered strong performances in the Championship this season and is widely expected to be playing Premier League football next term, whether with the Clarets or a new club.
The impending summer transfer window is set to bring further changes to Manchester United’s goalkeeping ranks as they seek to refine their squad under the new sporting leadership.
