Manchester United will reportedly compete with Liverpool to sign 24-year-old highly-rated English goalkeeper Anthony Patterson from Sunderland next year.
According to a report by The Sun, Anthony Patterson is the subject of interest from Manchester United. The Red Devils are scouring the market for a new backup goalkeeper ahead of next year’s two transfer windows. Meanwhile, the 24-year-old highly-rated Sunderland goalkeeper is also a target for Liverpool.
Anthony Patterson and his rise
Anthony Patterson has established himself as one of the best young goalkeepers in his homeland since breaking into the first-team squad at Sunderland AFC. A native of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, the Englishman spent his formative years in his homeland before graduating from the youth division at the Wearside club.
The 24-year-old has been the undisputed first-choice goalkeeper for Sunderland since the second half of the 2021/22 season, and he has not looked back since then. Patterson has been rock-solid in the first few weeks of the 2024/25 campaign, keeping four clean sheets in six EFL Championship games while conceding only four goals.
Meanwhile, Anthony Patterson’s exploits for Sunderland have not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several high-profile Premier League clubs. The bigwigs began showing interest in the highly-rated English goalkeeper earlier this year and have continued keeping tabs on his progress at the Stadium of Light. Manchester United and Liverpool are his prospective suitors.
A man in demand
Liverpool’s interest in Anthony Patterson is understandable. The Reds are in a spot of bother over the long-term future of Caoimhin Kelleher, who has been keen on embarking on a new adventure away from Anfield for several months. That might materialise next year, thus forcing Liverpool’s hand.
As for Manchester United, Altay Bayindir is Andre Onana’s deputy at Old Trafford. However, Erik ten Hag has seldom trusted the Turkish international. So, Patterson has emerged as a viable target for Manchester United, with the Englishman likely to arrive as the understudy to Onana.
A move in the January transfer window will unlikely see the light of day, considering Sunderland might be in the picture to secure promotion to the Premier League. So, it will be interesting to see if Manchester United and Liverpool wait until the summer transfer window to launch the offensive.
