Radek Vitek has had an excellent season on loan at Bristol City and the young Man Utd goalkeeper wants to keep playing first-team football.

Two goalkeepers will return to Old Trafford this summer after loan spells away and they might well have contrasting views on what they see as their next steps with Manchester United.

Andre Onana has spent this season on loan with Trabzonspor in Turkey, but the deal has no option to make it permanent, and the 30-year-old hasn’t given up on his United career. But Senne Lammens is now firmly installed as No.1 and Onana is too expensive to be playing the role of back-up.

United’s recruitment bosses will be aiming to sell the former Ajax and Inter Milan goalkeeper this summer, although that might be easier said than done. He doesn’t look to have a long-term future at the club, however.

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It’s a different story for Radek Vitek. The 22-year-old will return from a loan spell with Bristol City in the Championship with his reputation enhanced. He has been one of the second tier’s standout goalkeepers, and there will be plenty of interest in the Czech youth international.

United are yet to make a decision on Vitek’s future in what could be a summer of change in the goalkeeping department. While Lammens has established himself, Altay Bayindir could follow Onana out of the exit door as he seeks more first-team football. Veteran stopper Tom Heaton could sign a new deal to remain as third-choice.

That is likely to leave United in need of a new No.2, and Vitek could fit the bill. But having had first-team experience with the Robins this season, he now has the taste for playing regularly and is aware of what he needs for his development.

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“At this stage in my career, I want to play as many games as possible. I wouldn’t benefit from sitting on the bench,” he said last week in an interview with the BBC and The Sun.

Of his plans for next season, he added: “I will communicate with Manchester United closely, and we will see what’s going to be best for me next season.

“But I want to play football. I don’t want to just be somewhere sitting on the bench.”

United’s goalkeeping coach Craig Mawson has been in regular contact with Vitek this season, with this the third loan spell for a player who moved to Old Trafford at 16. He also excelled for Accrington Stanley in League Two and Blau-Weiss Linz in Austria.

Vitek is unlikely to challenge Lammens at the moment and it might tempt United to cash in while his stock is high. In the summer of 2023, they made £22.7million from selling academy goalkeepers Dean Henderson (£15m) and Matej Kovar (£7.7m). Selling Vitek now would surely take that tally to more than £30million.

But it wouldn’t solve the problem of finding a backup for Lammens, and there is an argument that United would be best off trying to convince Vitek to stay. With Michael Carrick’s side on course to return to Europe, Vitek could be told he will get to play in the domestic cup competitions and maybe an appearance in the league phase of the Champions League.

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That can still prove a valuable development path for a young goalkeeper. It kept Caoimhin Kelleher in the spotlight at Liverpool before he moved to Brentford last summer and has been enough to keep James Trafford in the England squad, even if he wants more than being No.2 to Gianluigi Donnarumma.

There will almost certainly come a time when United do have to sell Vitek, but if he gets another 10 to 12 games at Old Trafford next season and does well, his value will only rise. Performing for United will also give him a bigger profile than doing well for Bristol City.

That might be a solution that works for both parties. If United manage to sell Onana and Bayindir this summer, Vitek can step into that No.2 role, and if he does well, he could earn himself an even better move in 2027.

Nodirbek Yakubboev’s ‘Namaste’ gesture to India’s Harika Dronavali (Photo Credit: ChessBase India)

NEW DELHI: A light and heartwarming moment grabbed attention at the Grenke Freestyle Open when Grandmaster (GM) Harika Dronavali extended her hand to resign, but Uzbek GM Nodirbek Yakubboev responded with a polite “Namaste” instead. Both players smiled and walked away, making it a memorable and respectful exchange.Watch:The event itself is heating up in Karlsruhe, where Vincent Keymer and Hans Niemann are leading with perfect 5/5 scores. They’re set to face off next in a crucial match. Close behind is a strong group, including world number one Magnus Carlsen, keeping the competition intense.Interestingly, Daniel Hausrath, ranked far lower globally, is surprisingly holding his own among top players. With thousands of participants and a major prize pool, the tournament is one of the biggest in the world, and upcoming rounds are expected to shake up the leaderboard.This isn’t the first time Yakubboev avoided a handshake. Earlier, during a game against R Vaishali at the Wijk Aan Zee Challengers section last year, he did the same, which led to confusion. Later, he met her again with flowers and chocolates to apologise.“I’m sorry for what had happened? It was an awkward situation for both of us. I was hurrying that day. It looks like some misunderstanding. And I want to wish good luck for the remaining games for both of you. Just want to say. I respect you and your brother both. Both of you, and all the Indian chess players,” Yakubboev said.Vaishali responded kindly: “No, it’s clearly understandable. I didn’t take it that way, so we didn’t have to feel bad. You actually apologised. It’s totally fine. You don’t have to worry about it.”Yakubboev later explained it was due to “religious reasons”, adding, “I want to explain the situation… I do not touch other women for religious reasons.” He emphasized respect, saying, “I respect Vaishali and her brother as the strongest chess players in India. If I have offended her with my behavior, I apologise,” and clarified, “I do what I need to do… It is their business what to do.”

In racing, a single year brings massive changes.

Twelve months prior, Hughes secured a benchmark 70 over the 1400m at Caulfield in his early days with Gavin Bedggood. Come Saturday, this gelding triumphed in the Group 3 Victoria Handicap (1400m), clocking a new track record.

Jett Stanley delivered a flawless ride on Hughes ($19), who trailed early then surged through the pack to triumph by 1½ lengths over Athanatos ($11), followed a length behind by Meridius ($9.50) in third.

Gavin Bedggood expressed surprise at the gelding’s display.

“He won a benchmark 70 on this day last year,” Bedggood said.

“But he’s a very easy horse to train. We learnt that fresh is best and we just try and space his runs.

“He was four weeks between runs today. He doesn’t do a lot of work. He had a gallop on Monday morning and then we’ve pretty much left him alone.

“It seems to work well for him, but I thought he might be getting to the end of it.

“He got very hot pre-race when I was saddling him up and I was worried about that, but it was a great ride and full credit to the horse.”

Bedggood’s post-Echuca Cup (1400m) win guidance to Stanley was uncomplicated.

“What I said was ride him ‘second half’,” he explained.

“He has to be ridden where he’s comfortable. We’ve tried riding him close in lesser grade and it hasn’t worked for him.

“John Allen got it right last time and Jett executed it to a tee today.

“He really likes that ducking and weaving sort of ride. He’s not a big horse, but he loves getting amongst other horses and it works very well for him.”

Next for Hughes is a quick beach holiday as connections plan ahead.

The trainer floated the Golden Mile (1600m) at Bendigo as a future option next month.

“He’ll go and have his week at the beach,” Bedggood said.

“Maybe the Golden Mile could be a race as that works within the four-week time frame, but he’ll tell us.”

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Oscar De La Hoya is willing to step back into the boxing ring with a clear target in his mind for a return.

De La Hoya is viewed as one of the best to ever lace up a pair of gloves, winning world titles in six divisions along with being involved in some of the biggest fights around during that time.

It’s nearly two decades since he last competed, with his last action coming in 2008, but he is willing to fight once again despite now being 53-years-old.

De La Hoya’s main target is a man that he knows well, after making his intentions perfectly clear to former rival Floyd Mayweather.

Mayweather had been set for a professional bout against Manny Pacquiao in September but that clash has been thrown into doubt recently, and posting on social media, De La Hoya said that he wants the fight instead.

“Mayweather, come on dude. Fight a real fight. You’re still trying to protect your 0? Yes you’re 50-0 on paper but people know you’ve lost. Your own father said you lost against me when we fought.

“What’s crazy is people don’t know that we had a rematch clause for one year, and what do you do? Your p**sy ass retires for one year and one day.

“Ever since I got beat up by Manny Pacquiao in my last fight, I’ve wanted to fight every single day but I couldn’t because I wasn’t right physically, emotionally. All that depression I had in my spirit. These last five years I’ve put in the work.”

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Along with the callout of Mayweather, De La Hoya also revealed he would be happy to face YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.

“I did a lot of work and I feel happy and at peace, and you know what? A man at peace is a dangerous f**king man. I can take on King Kong if I want and beat his ass. I’ll even fight Jake Paul. Let’s go.”

It isn’t the first time that De La Hoya has teased a return, and whether it actually ever comes to fruition remains to be seen.

Following his win over Derek Chisora, Deontay Wilder revealed he “held back” against the Brit after thinking of him spending time with his family.

The fight at London’s O2 Arena is expected to be Chisora’s last professional bout.

READ MORE: Chisora beaten by Wilder in captivating bout