Paul Woolston, the young goalkeeper released by Newcastle last season, has landed a contract with Manchester United in a surprised move by the Old Trafford outfit.
The South Shields-born goalkeeper was released by the Magpies as they culled most of their under-23 squad last season but has impressed on a trial at Manchester United and his signing is set to be announced today, report the Manchester Evening News.
Woolston played regularly for the under-23s but Newcastle decided to release him last season – with ChronicleLive reporting that the 6ft shot-stopper was deemed not big enough by Academy coaches at United.
But the Red Devils want further competition in their Academy for Under-23 players Matej Kovar and fellow 18-year-old custodian Alex Fojticek.
“Woolston’s distribution and ability have impressed United coaches but he stands at around six feet tall, which is partly why Newcastle released him. South Shields-born Woolston also spent time with Darlington and Sunderland’s academies,” they report.
United have strength in depth in between the sticks. Freddie Woodman is an England under-21 international while the under-23 squad also has Finnish stopper Otto Huuhtanen and Nathan Harker.
Newcastle’s senior goalkeeping options are Martin Dubravka, Rob Elliot and Karl Darlow – with Benitez preferring the former Nottingham Forest stopper to Elliot as back up in recent weeks.
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