Altay Bayindir celebrates after a win (Getty Images)
According to a report from Yorkshire Live, Sheffield United have identified Fenerbahce goalkeeper Altay Bayindir as a potential transfer target ahead of the summer window.
Bayindir, 22, came through the youth ranks at Bursaspor, before joining Arabayatagi in 2012. A year later, he was signed by Bursa Yol, where he spent two years, before moving to Ankaragucu. He made 30 first-team appearances for the club, managing 10 clean sheets.
Bayindir moved to Fenerbahce last summer. So far, he has made 27 appearances for the Turkish giants but has kept only five clean sheets.
Sheffield United, meanwhile, have enjoyed a sensational 2019/20 campaign. Having earned promotion to the Premier League, the Blades have punched well above their weight. At the time of suspension of football, Chris Wilder’s side were 7th in the league with a great chance of securing European football for next season.
Defence has been their biggest strength, with Sheffield United conceding just 25 goals. Only Liverpool have let in fewer goals than them this term (21).
One of the main reasons behind their solidity at the back is goalkeeper Dean Henderson. The Englishman has been on loan with the club since last season. Having helped them to promotion to the top-flight, the 23-year-old has been once again in top form. The Manchester United loanee has kept 10 clean sheets in 27 league games.
But with his loan deal expiring, he will return to Manchester United. So replacing him for the next season should be a priority for Sheffield. However, Bayindir would hardly represent the right solution for the Blades.
The 22-year-old kept just five clean sheets in the Turkish Super Lig last season, conceding 28 goals in just 17 matches at a rate of 1.65 goals per game.
There hasn’t been significant improvement in his performances this term either, with him keeping five clean sheets once again. He has let in 33 goals in 25 games, at a rate of 1.32 per game. In comparison, Henderson has shipped 0.81 goals per game in the Premier League. Hence, the Blades must look for a better alternative for the Manchester United loanee.
With Dean Henderson’s loan deal expiring, Sheffield United must bring in a new goalkeeper in the summer transfer window. However, Fenerbahce’s Altay Bayinordu doesn’t seem like the right solution for the Blades.
The 22-year-old has kept just 5 clean sheets this term, half the number that Henderson has managed. Moreover, coming from a foreign league, he is likely to take time to adjust to the Premier League, which would be far from ideal for Sheffield United, given that they may very well be competing in Europe next season.
