Manchester United are reportedly ready to hijack a move for young Australian goalkeeper Robert Cook this summer.
The 17-year-old shot-stopper is currently on the books at Australia’s Perth Glory. He has yet to make his first competitive appearance for the Glory but has caught the eye of United’s scouts down under, according to journalist Alan Nixon.
News of United’s interest in Cook is thought to be bad news for Sunderland, who were keen to bring the goalkeeper to the Stadium of Light this summer. However, the pull of Old Trafford could be enough to convince the teenager to move to the Premier League.
If Cook were to move to United this summer, he would be the second youngster with connections to Perth to join the club. Last month, United completed a deal for teenager James Overy from Perth Glory.
The youngster caught the eye of Premier League clubs in the summer of 2023 when he impressed for Glory’s senior side during their friendly fixture with West Ham United, despite being just 15 at the time. The decision to target youth players is by no means a new one for United, who have prided themselves on talent rising through the academy ranks into the first team.
However, INEOS have made a clear pledge to spend good money on young players rather than more established names. Recently, Sir Jim Ratcliffe explained that he would rather spend cash on finding the next Kylian Mbappe than splash considerable sums on the Frenchman himself.
