Manchester United fail to sign player after failing two medicals in six months, including one in July

Manuel Ugarte is being targeted while academy reinforcements are also in full swing as goalscoring sensation Chido Obi-Martin has been tracked.

United have been decisive in the market, identifying targets, working quickly to make it happen and then getting over the line.

This paid dividends, except for one player, the circumstances around which were beyond their control.

Curious case of unsuccessful medical treatment

United’s goalkeeping department underwent a huge overhaul last summer as they swapped their number 1 and number 2, replacing David de Gea and Dean Henderson with Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir.

With Tom Heaton slowly moving towards a coaching role, possibly as early as next season, and Nathan Bishop leaving the club, United felt the need to strengthen their ranks this summer.

As a result, they targeted Accrington Stanley’s Toby Savin in the January window, according to The Sun. The 23-year-old goalkeeper has also been watched by scouts from Newcastle and Tottenham over the past three seasons.

United stole a march on their rivals and booked him a medical in January, only for the player to fail.

The club did not give up and re-entered the race for him this summer, booking a second medical in July, which the player again failed.

He is currently a free agent after leaving Accrington at the end of the season, but it is unclear whether United will make a third attempt.

Blessing in disguise

Nobody would wish on another player getting injured, but it’s fair to say that Savin’s move going down, while unfortunate for the player, is a blessing in disguise for United.

At Onana, Heaton and Bayindir, they have the three goalkeepers from the first team. Radek Vitek has been a star of this pre-season and should attract a top division loan.

Behind him, Elyh Harrison has earned plenty of plaudits for his proactive goalkeeping and shot-stopping. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him develop like Henderson.

Therefore, the need for another goalkeeper, especially one as injury-prone as Savin probably is, is ill-advised.

Bishop has been a consistent emergency backup for United and a good player to have in training, but if Savin has already failed two medicals, he is unlikely to be either of those things.

United would therefore do well to avoid going after him a third time and just accept that it wasn’t meant to be. They already have better options at the club for every role.