Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray believes a deal to bring in Nathan Bishop from Premier League giants Manchester United is all-but done ahead of the new Championship season.
With his Old Trafford contract expiring in less than 12 months’ time, the 23-year-old goalkeeper now looks set to take that well-worn path from Manchester United to Wearside, following in the footsteps of John O’Shea, Wes Brown, Kieran Richardson, Amad Diallo and many, many more.
Sunderland, according to the Northern Echo, ‘agreed a deal’ for Nathan Bishop in late-July.
The England U20 international featured as a youthful United side lost 3-1 to Wrexham – making the headlines for less-than-positive reasons after a painful collision with striker Paul Mullin – but is expected to seal his departure with Ten Hag’s team returning from their US tour.
Nathan Bishop leaving Manchester United for Sunderland
And as far as Mowbray is concerned, an announcement is ready to go.
In the aftermath of Sunderland’s worrying 5-2 pre-season thrashing at the hands of North East neighbours Hartlepool, the Black Cats boss told reporters that Bishop should be in the building imminently.
Pictures provided by Roker Report, seemingly showing Bishop signing a contract at the club’s training ground, suggests he already is.
“Tony Mowbray says that Nathan Bishop’s transfer to Sunderland from Manchester United is done as far as he is aware,” Sunderland Echo reporter James Copley writes on Twitter (or is it ‘X’ these days?); attending the former Celtic boss’s post-match press conference.
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Bishop, who joined United from Southend back in 2020, is not the only talented young Red Devils glovesman who could be heading out the door this month.
Aston Villa like Matej Kovar
Matej Kovar saw a return to Sparta Prague – where he won the Czech top-flight on loan last season – scuppered as United demand a £6 million fee for the rangy, ball-playing glovesman (Idnes).
“Matej Kovar, together with his agency and Manchester United, continue to consider how his career will continue. We wanted it to be in Sparta but, at this moment we can’t wait any longer,” sighs Tomas Rosicky, the former Arsenal playmaker who now acts as Sparta’s sporting director.
“The peak of our summer is approaching in the form of Champions League qualification. As I already said during the training camp in Austria, if we can’t bring Matej now, we have to react.”
But while Sparta Prague could not afford the £6 million United want, an ambitious, deep-pocketed Aston Villa certainly can.
Kovar shone against Leeds and Lyon in pre-season. United appear intent on bringing in a new ‘number two’ from outside, however; Zion Suzuki, Altay Bayindir and Justin Bijlow among the targets.