Manchester United eyes free agent goalkeeper Karl Darlow but must offload Altay Bayindir first

Manchester United wants to sign 35-year-old goalkeeper Karl Darlow from Leeds United this summer, but there’s a catch. The club needs to sell current backup Altay Bayindir before it can bring anyone new through the door.

The Darlow situation

Darlow is out of contract at Leeds this summer, making him available on a free transfer. The 35-year-old finished the 2025-26 campaign as Leeds’ first-choice goalkeeper, racking up 38 appearances across three seasons at Elland Road. He managed back-to-back Premier League clean sheets in March 2026, a stretch that apparently caught United’s attention.

Manchester United aren’t the only club circling. Everton and Leeds themselves have also offered to sign Darlow, creating a three-way competition for the veteran keeper.

United’s interest isn’t about finding their next number one. Senne Lammens holds that position and is expected to continue as the starter. Darlow would serve as experienced insurance, the kind of seasoned professional who can step in without the dressing room needing to hold its collective breath.

The Bayindir problem

Before any of this can happen, United need to move Altay Bayindir off the books. The Turkish international arrived from Fenerbahce in September 2023 on a four-year contract for approximately £4.3 million. Bayindir has seen limited action since arriving at Old Trafford, spending most of his time watching from the bench or the stands.

What this means for United’s squad planning

Manchester United is increasingly operating with conditional transfers, where outgoing deals must precede incoming ones. They’re replacing a £4.3 million backup with a free agent who offers more immediate Premier League reliability.

From a financial standpoint, signing Darlow on a free while offloading Bayindir would represent a net positive for United’s books regardless of what they receive for the Turkish keeper.

With an increased number of fixtures expected in 2026-27, if Bayindir proves difficult to sell, United could enter next season without the experienced backup they clearly want.

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