Roland Cutinho
Manchester United rope in Oxford United shot-stopper Kie Plumley as a backup option
According to the Sun, Manchester United have signed goalkeeper Kie Plumley on a free transfer following the player’s departure from Oxford United at the end of last season.
While the young English keeper didn’t make any senior appearances during his stint in League One, he did make it to the bench seven times as a backup.
The 19-year-old gained valuable experience while on loan at lower-league teams like Weston-super-Mare and Beaconsfield.
In the upcoming season, Plumley is expected to fill a backup role within United’s youth squads. He’s been listed among the eligible U21 players in the club’s Premier League squad for the 2023-24 season, alongside 55 other youngsters.
Nevertheless, it appears highly unlikely that the young shot-stopper will receive any opportunities to play for the first team.
Man United have witnessed some major changes in their goalkeeping roster this summer. Players like David De Gea, Dean Henderson, Matej Kovar, and Nathan Bishop have all left the club. Tom Heaton has stayed with the team but is now ranked as the third-choice goalkeeper, with Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir taking precedence.
These two keepers have recently joined the club from Inter Milan and Fenerbahce, respectively. Bayindir currently holds the position of second-choice goalkeeper at Old Trafford.
However, he is expected to have the opportunity to showcase his abilities in early 2024, when Onana departs to represent Cameroon in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Meanwhile, Plumley is expected to serve as an understudy to Elyh Harrison for United’s U21 squad. However, it remains to be seen whether he will have a major role to play for the academy team this season. The fans will expect to see the new signing make occasional appearances in youth-level games.
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He is a good backup option for the youth team squad in case of injuries or if any individual player faces form-related issues.
Hopefully, the English starlet can make the most of his time at Man United this season and gain valuable experience.
