Roland Cutinho
Manchester United’s 23-year-old goalkeeper Matej Kovar joins German club Bayer 04 Leverkusen in a permanent move
Bayer 04 Leverkusen, via their official Twitter handle, announced the signing of Manchester United goalkeeper Matej Kovar this morning.
Despite never participating in a senior competitive match for United, the 23-year-old made a strong impression during the first half of the preseason.
Kovar was held in high regard by the staff at Carrington and experienced a successful loan period at Sparta Prague. During his time there, he earned the title of Goalkeeper of the Year in the Czech First Division.
However, he was not included in Man United’s tour squad for their latter half pre-season matches in the United States, as he aimed to secure regular first-team playing opportunities elsewhere.
Leverkusen engaged in talks with the English giants over the span of a few weeks.
The skilled goalkeeper travelled to Germany last Thursday to undergo the initial phase of his medical test, and his status as a Leverkusen player has now been formally confirmed.
The Bundesliga team reached an agreement for a transfer that could reach a maximum of €9 million in value, with an upfront payment forming a part of that sum. The rest will be made up of performance-related bonuses.
While it’s a shame to lose such a promising young player, United have shown strategic thinking in this transfer agreement.
The deal has a buy-back clause, although the exact terms for United to reclaim their academy graduate remain unclear.
This clause gives Erik ten Hag the opportunity to have additional financial resources for the current summer, and it also allows the club to keep tabs on Kovar‘s progress, potentially serving as a solution if they require a goalkeeper in the future.
Presently, the Red Devils’ goalkeeping options rely on Andre Onana, Dean Henderson, and Tom Heaton.
Yet, with Heaton injured and Henderson’s future being a matter of concern, there’s a degree of uncertainty surrounding the goalkeeping position.
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Hence, it is a smart move to keep an eye on Kovar and let him progress in a new environment for the betterment of the player and the club.
