Bristol City Plot Permanent Move For Manchester United Keeper Radek Vítek

Bristol City are stepping up their summer push and hoping to land Manchester United goalkeeper Radek Vitek on a permanent deal after his eye catching season between the sticks, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.

The 22-year-old has rocketed to the top of the Robins’ wanted list after a string of standout displays at Ashton Gate following his season long loan switch from Old Trafford.

Vitek clocked up 41 appearances in the Championship and earned rave reviews as one of the division’s most consistent performers.

But despite his brilliance, Bristol City were left kicking their heels. A 12th place finish saw them end the campaign a painful 11 spots outside the play offs and well short of the promotion race, with Vitek often the shining light in an otherwise patchy side.

Now the Ashton Gate chiefs are determined not to let him slip away.

Club insiders say snapping up Vitek on a full time deal is the number one priority as Bristol gear up for a major rebuild aimed at launching a serious promotion charge next season. 

The message is clear, they want their man and they want him now. But it will not be straightforward.

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A host of Championship rivals are circling, ready to pounce if United open the door, while Premier League newcomers Coventry City are also believed to be keeping close tabs on the highly rated keeper. Interest is building fast and Bristol know they are in a real fight.

Vitek is still waiting for his first Premier League appearance at Old Trafford and, with fierce competition ahead of him, a breakthrough looks unlikely in the short term. That has put his future firmly under the spotlight heading into the transfer window.

The Czech stopper has already tasted life away from United with spells at Accrington Stanley and Austrian side Blau-Weiß Linz, but it was his time in BS3 that truly announced him.

Bristol are banking on the promise of regular football to tempt United into a permanent sale, believing the guarantee of a starting shirt could tip the balance in their favour.

And if a deal cannot be struck, the Robins are ready with a fallback plan, pushing hard for another season long loan rather than lose their number one.