Manchester City could battle Manchester United for Sunderland star

Sunderland goalkeeper Matthew Young could become the centre of a local bidding war, as Manchester City and Manchester United monitor the teenager’s developments.

The City Football Academy sold England Under-21 goalkeeping hero James Trafford to Burnley for £19 million during the summer transfer window, and boast and impressive goalkeeping department, with Ederson and Stefan Ortega representing the first-team.

Meanwhile, Scotland Under-21 keeper Cieran Slicker moved to Ipswich Town in July, after successful loan spells following development with the Manchester City academy.

Manchester City goalkeeping legend and two-time Premier League winner Joe Hart, famously made 348 appearances for the first-team during a 12-year spell at the Etihad Stadium, after signing from Shrewsbury as a teenager in 2006.

City Football Academy scouts are now eying another potential teenage addition between the sticks, with Manchester City ‘monitoring’ the developments of Sunderland goalkeeper Matthew Young.

The 16-year-old is drawing interest from both Manchester City and Manchester United according to journalist Mark Douglas, of The i Newspaper.

Young, who made his first-team debut for Sunderland during pre-season, has been compared to England’s Jordan Pickford, who moved to Everton from the Stadium of Light for £30 million in 2017.

The teenager has featured in four Premier League 2 matches already this season, as well as making two appearances in the U18 Premier League.

Young has kept two PL2 clean sheets so far during the campaign, with Manchester City having won both competitions last season.

The 16-year-old could become part of Sunderland’s first-team squad in the future, and is on the radar of the FA’s for a potential call-up.

Sunderland are currently bidding to win promotion back to the top-flight and sit in a play-off position after a positive start to the Sky Bet Championship campaign.

The Black Cats are fourth in the table, with six wins from 10 league matches.