Manchester United and Manchester City are casting a watchful eye over teenage Sunderland goalkeeper Matthew Young, according to a report.
The 16-year-old - who stands at 6ft 3in tall - has already made the step-up to Under-21 level this season after keeping six clean sheets in 14 Under-18 Premier League games last term.
Young has made four starts for the Under-21s in the Premier League 2 so far in the 2023-24 campaign, helping Sunderland keep clean sheets against Norwich City and West Bromwich Albion.
Back in the summer, Young was handed a contract extension at the Stadium of Light until the summer of 2025, but the 2006-born stopper is already being courted by some of the nation's most esteemed outfits.
According to The i, both Man City and Man United are scouting the Black Cats youngster, who was also a part of the Sunderland first-team squad during their pre-season tour of the USA.
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Man City in particular are said to have an active interest in Young, and the Premier League champions have often sent representatives to watch him in action at youth games this season.
However, Sunderland remain hopeful that they can retain the services of their goalkeeping protege, who turned down Wolverhampton Wanderers this year to pen scholarship terms at the Stadium of Light.
The Black Cats are said to have mapped out a path to the first team for Young, who is also expected to earn a maiden call-up to an England age-group squad in the near future after catching the eye of the FA.
Nevertheless, having offered Man United's Amad Diallo a platform to impress last season, the Black Cats could try to keep Young at the club on loan if he is poached by a Premier League side.
Man United underwent a significant change in their goalkeeping department over the summer, as David de Gea's 12-year spell in between the sticks came to an end upon the expiration of his contract.
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In response, Man United moved swiftly to agree a deal for Andre Onana, who kept eight clean sheets during Inter Milan's run to the Champions League final in the 2022-23 season, as well as bringing in Altay Bayindir from Fenerbahce.
Onana has started all 11 of the Red Devils' games so far this term, but the Cameroonian has been the target of relentless criticism on the back of a challenging start to life at Old Trafford.
Onana only has three clean sheets to show from 11 matches in a Man United jersey, conceding 19 goals in total and shipping seven goals in two Champions League fixtures against Galatasaray and Bayern Munich.
Erik ten Hag is still said to have full trust in Onana, but Bayindir could supposedly be handed an opportunity in the near future if the ex-Ajax stopper cannot turn his fortunes around following the international break.
Ben Knapton
