Man Utd now interested in ‘outstanding’ Championship star, Dan Ashworth sold him three years ago

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Manchester United are hunting a new goalkeeper this summer and may end up moving for a bargain addition from the Championship.

Ruben Amorim has a big end to the season on the horizon as Manchester United chase Europa League glory.

United meet Lyon in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-finals this week, with Amorim knowing that the Europa League is the last chance for United to secure European football for next season.

Amorim surely can’t wait for the summer window, though, with United needing to make major changes in the market.

Reports in January suggested that Amorim wanted to sign two goalkeepers in order to revamp his options between the sticks.

Andre Onana has been linked towards Saudi Arabia, whilst Tom Heaton is expected to leave United with his contract up this summer.

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Manchester United interested in signing Freddie Woodman

United may be keen to sign another English stopper to replace veteran goalkeeper Heaton.

Homegrown quotas mean that English backup goalkeepers become very appealing – and United appear to have a target in mind.

The Sun’s Alan Nixon reports that United are now interested in signing Preston North End goalkeeper Freddie Woodman.

Woodman is out of contract at PNE this summer and looks likely to depart Deepdale on a free transfer.

United are therefore interested in snatching Woodman in a bargain move, viewing him as a second or third choice at Old Trafford.

Hailed as ‘outstanding’ by Eddie Howe in the Northern Echo, Woodman is currently out injured and missed last week’s FA Cup quarter-final clash with Aston Villa.

Woodman won’t return before the end of the season, but United are believed to have been watching him closely before his injury.

Blackburn Rovers’ Aynsley Pears is also on United’s radar, but Woodman’s status as a free agent will make him very appealing.

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Dan Ashworth sold Freddie Woodman in 2022

Woodman was a top young talent at Newcastle United, having initially come through with Crystal Palace.

The 28-year-old won the Under-20 World Cup with England in 2017 and won the Golden Glove for that tournament.

First-team action at Newcastle was hard to come by, though, making just nine appearances for the Magpies whilst opening time on loan at Hartlepool United, Crawley Town, Kilmarnock, Aberdeen, Swansea City and Bournemouth.

Newcastle sold Woodman to PNE in 2022, with one man key to getting the deal done – former United sporting director Dan Ashworth.

As noted by Lancs Live, Ashworth ‘helped the process massively’ with PNE initially unsure whether they would be able to sign Woodman.

Ashworth got the deal done, though, paving the way for Woodman to leave St James’ Park and play consistent first-team football.

United and Ashworth parted ways in December but could now move to sign a goalkeeper he sold just three years ago.