Manchester United is reportedly intensifying efforts to facilitate the summer departure of goalkeeper Altay Bayındır, with the latest development seeing the 27-year-old offered to Turkish Super Lig side Goztepe.
The move comes as United navigate a critical transfer window following a deeply disappointing 2024/25 season.
However, United’s plan faces a complication as Bayındır would prefer to stay at United and at the very least at a major European league, sources have told Turkish-Football.
Bayindir has turned down Goztepe and will not join the Super Lig club.
Bayındır arrived at Old Trafford in 2023 in a £4.3 million deal from Fenerbahçe but has found himself largely on the sidelines, serving as understudy to Andre Onana. His limited appearances have, at times, been characterized by unsteady performances, adding to the club’s goalkeeping concerns. This situation is further complicated by Onana’s own inconsistent displays since Ruben Amorim’s arrival in November, despite starting last season strongly under Erik ten Hag.
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While Amorim is believed to be keen on acquiring a new shot-stopper, Manchester United’s transfer budget is primarily earmarked for strengthening the forward line. This financial allocation leaves limited room for a high-cost goalkeeper acquisition, prompting the club to seek a more economical option to provide competition for Onana, rather than an outright upgrade on the 29-year-old Cameroonian.
Consequently, Old Trafford executives have been actively seeking a new club for Bayındır. A return to the Turkish Super Lig appeared to be a strong possibility, with the goalkeeper’s agent reportedly approaching the league’s big four – Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, Beşiktaş, and Trabzonspor – regarding a potential deal. However, as reported by The Peoples Person, these prominent Turkish clubs collectively declined the opportunity to sign him.
In their continued efforts to offload Bayındır, United have now turned their attention to Goztepe. The newly promoted Super Lig club’s current goalkeeper, Mateusz Lis, reportedly endured a challenging season, making Bayındır a potential replacement target.
This preference could impede United’s strategy to resolve their goalkeeping situation. Andre Onana is expected to stay and compete for the first-choice spot next season, while veteran third-choice goalkeeper Tom Heaton recently signed a one-year contract extension this week. This leaves the task of upgrading the number two goalkeeping slot on INEOS’s agenda, contingent on finding a new home for Altay Bayındır.
