The Red Devils, who are enduring a challenging 2024-25 campaign—currently sitting 13th in the Premier League as of April 6, 2025—are in the midst of a broader squad overhaul under Amorim’s leadership.
According to reports from outlets like the Manchester Evening News and Caught Offside, Bayindir’s potential departure, combined with concerns over current No. 1 André Onana’s inconsistent performances, has prompted United to explore several goalkeeping options, including Burnley’s record-breaking James Trafford, while interest in other prospects like Southampton’s Tyler Dibling and Royal Antwerp’s Senne Lammens has also emerged.
Altay Bayindir, the 26-year-old Turkish international, joined Manchester United from Fenerbahce in the summer of 2023 for £4.3 million, arriving as a backup to Onana.
However, his time at Old Trafford has been marked by limited opportunities, with only a handful of appearances in cup competitions over the past two seasons. Bayindir’s lack of game time has fueled speculation about his future, especially as he aims to secure a starting spot for Turkey at the 2026 World Cup.
Posts on X from sources like @UtdXclusive and @UnitedStandMUFC in late March 2025 highlighted this uncertainty, noting that Bayindir could seek regular football elsewhere to boost his international prospects.
Additionally, reports from TeamTalk and Caught Offside indicate that Bayindir is tipped to return to Turkey this summer, with several clubs reportedly interested in the goalkeeper who has shown promise but struggled to break into United’s first team.
Amid this uncertainty, Amorim has made it clear he wants to strengthen the goalkeeping unit. The Portuguese manager, who took over in November 2024, has publicly backed Onana despite the Cameroonian’s high-profile errors, such as his blunders against Ipswich Town and Arsenal earlier this season.
However, sources like Give Me Sport and Sports Mole suggest that United’s hierarchy is actively scouting replacements, with Onana’s future also hanging in the balance—rumors of a potential move to Saudi Arabia have surfaced.
Amorim’s desire for competition in the goalkeeping ranks has led to concrete talks with Burnley over their 22-year-old star James Trafford, who has been a revelation in the Championship. Trafford, a former Manchester City academy graduate, joined Burnley in 2023 for a fee that could rise to £19 million and has since set a record with a 1,000-minute clean sheet streak this season, earning him an England senior call-up under Thomas Tuchel in March 2025.
United’s interest in Trafford, first reported by TBR Football and Caught Offside in late March, has intensified, though they face competition from Newcastle United, who are also long-term admirers of the young keeper.
Burnley, backed by minority owner JJ Watt, are reluctant to sell mid-season, especially with promotion on the horizon, and have set a £30 million valuation on their prized asset.
Beyond Trafford, United have cast a wider net. Royal Antwerp’s Senne Lammens, a 22-year-old Belgian goalkeeper, has emerged as a target, with reports from Sports Mole and Yahoo Sports indicating that Lammens would “seriously consider” a move to Old Trafford if an offer materializes. Lammens, who has been one of the standout keepers in the Belgian Pro League this season, is valued at around €10 million and fits United’s INEOS-driven strategy of investing in young, high-potential talents.
Meanwhile, interest in Southampton’s 18-year-old winger Tyler Dibling has surfaced as part of United’s broader recruitment plans, according to GIVEMESPORT. Dibling, valued at £55 million by Southampton, is seen as a versatile wide option following United’s failure to sign Sporting CP’s Geovany Quenda, who joined Chelsea.
While Dibling isn’t a goalkeeper, his inclusion in United’s transfer discussions underscores Amorim’s intent to revamp multiple areas of the squad.
The potential departure of Bayindir isn’t the only goalkeeping change on the horizon. Veteran Tom Heaton, United’s third-choice keeper, is expected to retire when his contract expires in June 2025, as reported by Samuel Luckhurst in the Manchester Evening News.
This leaves United potentially needing two new goalkeepers, a scenario that TeamTalk described as a “priority” for Amorim. Other names linked include Lille’s Lucas Chevalier and Blackburn Rovers’ Aynsley Pears, though Trafford and Lammens appear to be the primary targets.
Fans on X are divided, with some expressing frustration over the club’s goalkeeping situation—@MattyMurray18 suggested selling Onana and keeping Bayindir, while @KJxMilligan advocated for a keeper to challenge Onana, naming Trafford and Lammens as options.
As the summer window approaches, United’s goalkeeping saga promises to be a defining subplot in their rebuilding efforts under Amorim. Will Trafford or Lammens step up to the challenge, or will Bayindir defy the odds and stay? The stakes at Old Trafford have rarely been higher.
