At a Glance
- Manchester United’s Bayindir likely to leave
- A swap deal involving former Leicester man mooted
- The Turkish goalkeeper has lacked game time
Manchester United are reportedly weighing up a surprise transfer swap that could see goalkeeper Altay Bayindir return to Turkey in exchange for Besiktas midfielder Wilfred Ndidi.
According to reports from Turkish outlet Sporx, early-stage discussions have taken place regarding a potential swap deal. Both clubs are open to the arrangement as they look ahead to filling respective gaps within their squads.
Ndidi was the subject of rumours for a move to Old Trafford in the winter transfer window. He was considered a ‘secret Premier League midfielder’ that United were interested in, alongside Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Neither move materialised as Ruben Amorim’s sacking threw a spanner in the works of any transfer strategies.
Time to move on from the Bayindir experiment
Bayindir joined United in 2023 as their first-ever Turkish player. Unfortunately, he has struggled for consistent playing time, primarily brought in as a backup to Andre Onana. Bayindir did get a chance between the sticks as the Cameroonian’s form dipped. However, significant errors by the Turk did not convince the club that he was the answer they were looking for.
The goalkeeper has made 6 Premier League appearances this season. He was used as a stopgap until United signed Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp in the summer. Bayindir’s last appearance was 3-1 loss to Brentford in September. The early cup exits for the Red Devils have severely limited his game-time since autumn.
Is Ndidi the answer?
The most intriguing aspect of the deal is Ndidi potentially joining United. The Nigerian international, who joined Besiktas last summer for €8m, has been on United’s radar for several seasons.
Out of form, Manuel Ugarte is the only real defensive senior option available in the absence of Casemiro. Ndidi is a reliable ball-winner with extensive Premier League experience.
By including Bayindir in the negotiations, United hope to significantly lower the cash outlay required to secure the midfielder. Swap deals are rare in the Premier League, but this proposal could benefit both clubs.
The last time that United were involved in one was Henrikh Mkhitaryan for Alexis Sanchez. It turned out to be one of the worst transfers in the club’s history. Therefore, any reluctance to conduct a straight swap would be understandable.
However, this is a much lower-profile move. It allows Besiktas to land a player they will play as their number one, while providing United with a Premier League-experienced midfielder.
It would be a smart cost-cutting transfer made by INEOS. Although fans will still expect more money spent in the form of a Casemiro replacement.
