Man City considering sensational move for Man Utd star as Wolves plot 'second shot' at £25m manplaceholder image
Man City considering sensational move for Man Utd star as Wolves plot 'second shot' at £25m man | Getty Images
The young goalkeeper is very highly rated, with several Premier League clubs said to be interested in him
Manchester City also saw a change in goalkeepers, as Ederson left for Galatasaray, and they replaced him by signing both James Trafford from Burnley and Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain.
However, despite this, both clubs are constantly looking to find the next star in goal, and they are reportedly embroiled in a transfer battle with several other Premier League clubs for a promising Championship player.
Man Utd, Man City, Arsenal and more keen on Birmingham starlet
Birmingham City are no strangers to developing young talent. Jude Bellingham and his brother Jobe both came through the academy at St Andrews, and have both turned into world class talents, who have helped the club generate some significant profit in recent years.
There now seems to be a new one, as 14-year-old goalkeeper Alfie Smith is generating a lot of interest due to his impressive performances for Birmingham’s U18s side. He became the second-youngest keeper ever to appear in the U18 Premier League, after being in goal against Fulham last weekend.
The Daily Mail are reporting that Birmingham are trying hard to tie Smith down on a long-term contract, as they want to ensure his future at St Andrew’s, likely with a view to him starting for the Blues in the future. However, the report includes that Man City and Man United are both charting Smith’s progress and threatening Birmingham’s hopes to keep him.
Furthermore, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool are reportedly keen on Smith too, all with the hopes that he will join their academies rather than staying at Birmingham. The Blues are reportedly trying to convince the 14-year-old that his best chance for development will be if he remains at St Andrew’s rather than moving.
Man United hope their long-term goalkeeper issues are solved
By signing Lammens in the summer transfer window, Man United have invested in the future, as the 23-year-old hopes to become the new long-term man at the back for the Red Devils, after Onana flopped.
United signed Lammens despite his lack of experience at the top level, as they looked to try and replicate Brighton’s successful recruitment strategy. The Belgian keeper ranked highly in terms of shot stopping data, which ranked him as one of the best stoppers in Europe.
Instead of spending big on a proven veteran goalkeeper such as Onana, United hope that their data-driven strategy will provide the long-term solution in goal for the first time since they signed David De Gea in 2011 under Sir Alex Ferguson. Lammens is yet to feature for United, but he will be hoping to play against Chelsea in their next Premier League game at the weekend.
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