Manchester United are considering experienced goalkeepers to act as back-up to Senne Lammense next season, including Leeds United’s Karl Darlow.
Lammens arrived last summer and has established himself as the first choice after an impressive first season at Old Trafford.
The Belgian has secured his spot, but there is expected to be some movement in the goalkeeping department at Manchester United around him.
Altay Bayindir was second choice last season, but is being linked with a move back to his native Turkey after rarely featuring over three seasons at the club.
All the World Cup action
Get everything you need to know about the World Cup – England updates, the games to watch and stories you missed – in five minutes, at 1pm, every day. Sign up here.
Andre Onana is returning after a season on loan at Trabzonspor but the Red Devils are keen to move him on permanently this summer.
If both Bayindir and Onana depart that would just leave Lammens and 40-year-old stopper Tom Heaton, who has just signed a one-year contract extension.
Manchester United want to bring in an experienced, homegrown goalkeeper to act as back-up to Lammens and one that will not break the bank.
The Athletic report that Darlow has emerged on their radar, with the 15-cap Wales international’s contract at Leeds expiring at the end of this month.
The veteran goalkeeper has been at Leeds since 2023, largely in a back-up role for the first two seasons, but he played far more regularly in the Premier League over the last campaign.
The former Newcastle and Nottingham Forest stopper made 22 league appearances last season, playing a big part in Leeds’ impressive Premier League survival.
As such, the Yorkshire club are keen for him to sign a new contract, but now face some competition from Manchester United.
Clearly Darlow would be much more likely to play at Elland Road than at Old Trafford, but may well be tempted by a move to Manchester United at this late stage of his career.
In a similar vein, the Red Devils have also been linked with a move for Wolves goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, who came through the Manchester United academy.
The England international still has two years on his contract at Molineux, so would warrant a fee, but is another candidate for the back-up stopper role.
It seemed unlikely Manchester United would be in this goalkeeping situation when they spent £43.8 million on Onana in 2023, but the Cameroon international fell out of favour after just two seasons.
Speaking on the Supernova podcast, Inter Milan director Piero Ausilio considers that sale one of the best in the club’s history.
‘Inter are proud of the Onana [deal],’ he said. ‘It depends on what we’re talking about. If it’s about a capital gain, then probably Onana [is the best deal].
‘He joined Inter on a free transfer and left for an enormous fee. I think it may be the highest capital gain in the club’s history. Only deals like the [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic one get close.’