Manchester United are interested in young keeper Robbie Cook according to reports.
The 17-year-old Perth Glory keeper has yet to make his senior debut but has featured on the bench for the Australian club.
He is looking to make the move to England though, having recently been on trial with Sunderland.
The Sunderland Echo report that he “will head to other clubs on trial this summer – including Manchester United – before deciding on his future.”
Alan Nixon has also reported on the move, adding that “Manchester United are trying to snatch young Australian keeper Robbie Cook from the clutches of Sunderland. Perth Glory babe Cook has been training with the Black Cats since coming from Down Under to try his luck. However United have now asked him to join them this week to join their academy.”
A dual citizen of Australia and the United Kingdom means that Cook is eligible to complete a move to England immediately, despite being under the age of 18.
The possible move would see him link up with fellow Perth Glory academy graduate James Overy, who was reported to have sealed a move last month.
The right-back Overy had been plying his trade in non-league while trialling with Premier League clubs during last season and may incentivise Cook’s decision as help to settle in a new country.
With Elyh Harrison and Tom Myles moving up to the u21s, Cook would likely slot into the u18s squad to compete with Will Murdock and first year scholars Cameron Byrne-Hughes and Fred Heath for the number one shirt in Adam Lawrence’s side.
An inexperienced group of keepers, the spot between the sticks looks to be wide open and Cook could swoop straight in.
Will Murdock is the only to feature in goal at u18s level with just two appearances, while Byrne-Hughes made a memorable u18s debut on the left wing but has yet to feature in his natural position.
With a smaller than normal first year scholar intake so far, there are spaces available for United to dip into the market for the u18s squad and the first two could both be from Perth Glory.
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