Manchester United have joined Arsenal in the race to sign Columbus Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte ahead of the summer window.
United signed two goalkeepers last summer with Andre Onana grabbing the headlines following his big move from Inter Milan.
Turkish international Altay Bayindir came in from Fenerbahce too, but we have only seen him make one appearance in a United shirt.
It would be bold of United to move on from Bayindir this summer yet a departure can’t be completely ruled out after playing even less football than imagined.
United may need to have goalkeeping targets in mind just in case Bayindir pushes for first-team action elsewhere, and a surprise name is in the frame…
Manchester United want Patrick Schulte
Transfermarkt now report that United are interested in signing American stopper Patrick Schulte.
It’s stated that Arsenal have picked him out as a potential replacement for Aaron Ramsdale should the England international leave this summer.
Wolverhampton Wanderers are also interested and United are now in the race too, having followed his development in Major League Soccer.
A deal could cost somewhere between $9million (£7million) and $14million (£11million) – the prices Chelsea paid to sign goalkeepers Gabriel Slonina and Djordje Petrovic from MLS clubs.
Chicago Fire and New England Revolution raked in the cash from those deals and Columbus Crew could be in line for a similar deal if they sell Schulte.
Who is Patrick Schulte and what has been said about him?
Schulte was drafted 12th overall by Columbus Crew in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft and his rise has been pretty rapid.
The 23-year-old won the MLS Cup last season, becoming the Crew’s first-choice goalkeeper.
A 6ft 3in stopper, Schulte has now earned his first cap for the United States and there should be many more to come.
Crew boss Wilfried Nancy has praised Schulte as ‘outstanding’, adding that he is ‘extremely demanding’.
Schulte has developed quickly since being drafted and he could be the next American stopper to end up in the Premier League, following in the footsteps of goalkeepers like Tim Howard – possibly in more ways than one, if he joins United.