Former Aberdeen goalkeeper Joe Lewis ‘is training with Man United’s academy to keep his fitness up’, as the Red Devils consider new options after the costly blow of their early exit from Europe
The world of football is always full of surprises, and the latest news to emerge from Manchester United is no exception. According to reports, former Aberdeen goalkeeper Joe Lewis has started training with the club’s academy at Carrington. The 36-year-old shotstopper, who spent seven years at Pittodrie and rose to become the club’s captain in 2019, is currently a free agent after leaving Aberdeen in the summer. Lewis, who lives locally to the Manchester United training ground, is believed to be keeping fit by training with the academy, and his presence is seen as a positive addition to the club’s training pool of goalkeepers.
As news of Lewis’s training with Manchester United broke, fans and pundits alike have been weighing in on the move. Some have expressed surprise that a player of Lewis’s experience and caliber is not currently attached to a club, while others have pointed out that his addition to the academy could be a shrewd move by the Red Devils. With third-choice goalkeeper Tom Heaton potentially on his way out of the club in January, Lewis could provide a reliable and experienced pair of hands to support first-choice keeper Andre Onana and second-choicekeeper Altay Bayindir. The Turkish shotstopper, who was signed from Fenerbahce for £4.3million in the summer, has yet to make an appearance for the club but has been tipped to step in for Onana should the need arise.
The news of Lewis’s training with Manchester United comes at a time when the club is facing a significant financial blow following their early exit from Europe. The Red Devils’ midweek elimination from the Champions League has cost the club at least £28m, which will likely impact on their transfer dealings in the January window. With the club’s finances set to take a hit, the arrival of free agents like Lewis could be a welcome boost to Erik ten Hag’s squad. As the transfer window approaches, it will be interesting to see whether Lewis’s training stint with the academy leads to a more permanent arrangement, and whether he can provide the kind of experienced and reliable goalkeeping that the club needs.
For Lewis himself, the opportunity to train with Manchester United’s academy is a chance to keep fit and maintain his goalkeeping sharpness while he considers his next move. The 36-year-old has a wealth of experience in the game, having made over 190 appearances for Peterborough United and spending seven years at Aberdeen. His career has taken him from the youth ranks at Norwich City to the Premier League, where he made one appearance for Cardiff City in a 1-1 draw with Hull City. With his experience and know-how, Lewis could be a valuable asset to Manchester United’s academy, and his presence could provide a boost to the club’s young goalkeepers.
Meanwhile, the news of Lewis’s training with Manchester United has sparked a lively debate among fans and pundits about the club’s goalkeeping situation. With Onana established as the club’s first-choice keeper, and Bayindir waiting in the wings, some have questioned whether Lewis’s addition is necessary. However, others have pointed out that the experienced goalkeeper could provide a safe pair of hands and a steady influence on the club’s young goalkeepers. As the January transfer window approaches, it will be fascinating to see how Manchester United’s goalkeeping situation unfolds, and whether Lewis’s training stint with the academy leads to a more permanent arrangement.
As the football world continues to speculate about Lewis’s future and Manchester United’s goalkeeping plans, one thing is clear: the Red Devils are facing a challenging period ahead. With the financial implications of their early European exit still being felt, the club will need to be shrewd and strategic in their transfer dealings. The arrival of free agents like Lewis could be a key part of their plans, and his experience and know-how could provide a valuable boost to the club’s academy. As the January transfer window opens, Manchester United fans will be watching with bated breath to see how the club navigates the challenges ahead, and whether Lewis’s training stint with the academy is just the beginning of a new chapter in his career.
