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Galatasaray is reported to have set their sights on Manchester United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir as a primary target in the upcoming summer transfer window.
According to Turkish media outlet A Spor, as cited by The Sun Football, the Super Lig powerhouse is keen on luring Bayindir away from Old Trafford, where he has found playing opportunities scarce since his move from Fenerbahce last summer for a fee of €5 million.
Despite being only 25 years old, Bayindir has had limited exposure at Manchester United, serving as the backup to Andre Onana, another addition to the squad last summer. His sole appearance came in a 4-2 victory over Newport County in the FA Cup fourth round on January 28, signaling a potential desire for more consistent first-team football.
During his tenure with Fenerbahce, Bayindir established himself as one of the premier goalkeepers in Turkish football, amassing 145 appearances and securing 44 clean sheets. However, his transition to Manchester United has not afforded him the expected game time, with Onana, despite experiencing an uneven season, firmly holding the number one spot with 10 clean sheets across 33 games in all competitions.
Sefa Seyrek, Bayindir’s agent, expressed concerns over his client’s playing time in November, indicating Bayindir’s ambition to claim the starting goalkeeper position, especially in anticipation of Onana’s departure for the African Cup of Nations in January.
Seyrek’s comments, “Bayindir wants to take over as Manchester United’s number 1 goalkeeper before Onana goes to the African cup! That’s his goal. Man Utd fans are actually oppressive on this issue. I hope Altay will be able to move into goal in the near future,” highlight the goalkeeper’s aspirations and the external pressures surrounding the situation.
Contrary to expectations, Onana’s participation in AFCON led to him missing only a single match for Manchester United, leaving Bayindir sidelined and bypassed even for the FA Cup third-round match against Wigan Athletic on January 8, where Ten Hag opted to start Onana.
