Celtic are looking at Manchester United goalkeeper Radek Vitek this summer. According to transfer reporter Pete O’Rourke, the Scottish champions have identified the 22-year-old as a target. They’re not alone though. Hull City, just promoted to the Premier League, and Rangers are also in the mix.
Vitek started at Sigma Olomouc in Czechia before United signed him in 2020. He bounced around on loan — first to Accrington Stanley in England’s fourth tier, then to Blau-Weiß Linz in Austria for the 2024-25 season. He kept six clean sheets in 26 league games there and helped them finish in the top half. Last season he was at Bristol City in the Championship, playing 41 times and securing a mid-table finish. He’s not going to be third-choice at Old Trafford. He needs to play.
Why Celtic is changing its approach in goal
Kasper Schmeichel retired and that left a hole. But instead of grabbing another veteran like they did when they brought in Schmeichel to replace Joe Hart, the club is going young. Over the last few weeks they’ve been linked with Dinko Horkas, Nikolas Polster, Aleksander Bobek and Tjark Ernst. All of them are younger options. Vitek fits that mold.
Right now the depth chart has Viljami Sinisalo and Ross Doohan. Sinisalo stepped in when Schmeichel got hurt and played well enough to help the club win the domestic double. Doohan hasn’t seen the field since coming back to his boyhood club. So they need someone who can push Sinisalo and cover when needed.
What Vitek brings — and where he still needs work
Vitek is 6’6″. He’s got that massive frame and he uses it. He’s good at claiming crosses and making reaction saves that look ridiculous. People who’ve watched him at Bristol City and Linz talk about his shot-stopping as his best trait. He commands the box.
But he’s still raw. Sometimes he rushes off his line when he shouldn’t. Sometimes he misjudges a high ball. Those are the kind of mistakes young keepers make when they’re still learning. More minutes would help. If Celtic lands him, Martin O’Neill would have a project on his hands — one with real upside if the development goes right.
No word yet on where Vitek himself leans. But with three clubs chasing him and United open to another loan or maybe a sale, this one could move fast once the summer window really opens up.
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