Manchester United Plan January Move For 6ft 2″ Defensive Star

Manchester United are keeping tabs on Sunderland shot-stopper Jordan Pickford – one of England’s best young goalkeeper, as claimed by the Daily Star.

Pickford, currently on loan at newly-promoted Championship outfit Preston North End, has established himself in the England Under-21 side and is highly thought of at the Stadium of Light.

As per the above named source, the Red Devils’ scout have been keeping an eye on Pickford’s progress while on loan at Preston.

United’s move for the 6ft2 goalie would surely come as a surprise as the Manchester-based club are currently littered with enough players in that department. Louis van Gaal has David De Gea – who penned a fresh deal at the club following a summer of transfer hassles, Sergio Romero, Sam Johnstone and Victor Valdes as the club’s senior goalkeepers in his ranks at Old Trafford.

But it is claimed Johnstone is unhappy with lack of game time, and Valdes is out of favour with van Gaal, meaning Pickford could be brought in as a replacement for the Spaniard, who has been on the periphery at Old Trafford since the beginning of the season.

However, Pickford has played in every league game for Preston this term, keeping three clean sheets with 18 saves.

United’s next Premier League game is a tough away trip to Merseyside to face Roberto Martinez’s Everton, and Louis van Gaal and his charges will be looking to bounce back from the 3-0 defeat suffered in their last league game against Arsenal.