Manchester United have blocked an approach from Sunderland to sign young goalkeeper Nathan Bishop.
That is according to a report from The Athletic, who claim that Sunderland have made an approach to sign Bishop.
However, United’s goalkeeping situation is described as delicate, with Bishop unable to leave the club just yet.
United need Bishop for training alongside fellow youngster Matej Kovar, serving as cover for Tom Heaton in pre-season.
David De Gea has gone and Dean Henderson is injured, meaning Bishop is still needed around Erik ten Hag’s squad for a while yet.
Manchester United’s goalkeeping situation is a mess
We can praise United for getting the signing of Mason Mount done fairly quickly.
However, the handling of the goalkeeping situation is baffling and simply can’t keep dragging on.
First it was De Gea, who was staying then going, then staying again and then gone with his contract expiring.
Henderson is in limbo, waiting for the green light to become a permanent Nottingham Forest player.
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United won’t let that deal happen until a new goalkeeper arrives, such as top target Andre Onana.
Another goalkeeper is wanted amid links to Zion Suzuki but the situation could get even more complex with Everton wanting Tom Heaton.
Bishop will now be left waiting to hear if he can move on, with a few more dominoes left to fall yet.
Nathan Bishop may fancy a move away from Old Trafford
Bishop turns 24 in October and really needs to be playing.
Signed from Southend United in January 2020, Bishop was seen as a fine prospect for the future.
Bishop had already played 39 times for Southend and came in to join the United development ranks.
Three-and-a-half years on, Bishop has never played for United’s first team and is in danger of seeing his career stall.
Bishop racked up more than 50 appearances during a 2021-22 loan spell at Mansfield Town, but it hasn’t taken him any closer to first-team action for United.
Sunderland would be a nice move for Bishop, potentially giving him the prospect of replacing highly-rated stopper Anthony Patterson should he move to the Premier League.
This sounds like a move which may materialise later in the window, once United finally have their goalkeeping house in order.