Manchester United’s goalkeeper search has seen them keep tabs on Blackburn Rovers stopped Aynsley Pears, it has been claimed.
United have encountered issues at the back this term, with first-choice keeper Andre Onana making a number of high-profile errors. With backup Altay Bayindir the subject of offers, questions have been asked about how Ruben Amorim’s squad might look next term.
Head coach Ruben Amorim has been limited in his spending so far. Patrick Dorgu arrived from Lecce for just shy of £30m, while youngster Ayden Heaven completed a move from Arsenal, but the boss will need to wait until the summer for the larger rebuild required.
Part of that rebuild could involve a goalkeeper to provide competition to Onana, and Pears is said to be a contender. The 26-year-pld could become the second member of his family to play at Old Trafford, with dad Stephen beginning his career with United before spending the bulk of his career at Middlesbrough.
According to The Sun, United scout Tony Coton has been keeping an eye on Pears. The Blackburn keeper has 13 clean sheets in 35 Championship appearances this term, including a run of five on the spin in November and December as Rovers played their way into play-off contention.
Blackburn have conceded just 37 goals all season – no team outside the top six has conceded fewer. However, former manager John Eustace came back to haunt them over the weekend as he led new club Derby to a 2-1 victory in the league.
If Pears does end up moving to Manchester United, he would be the third Blackburn keeper in recent years to step up to the Premier League. David Raya won promotion with Brentford after leaving Ewood Park and subsequently moved to Arsenal, while Thomas Kaminski left Blackburn for newly-promoted Luton Town in 2023.
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Onana has remained United’s first choice this season, playing all 28 matches in the Premier League. He was part of a side which drew 1-1 against Arsenal on Sunday, with head coach Ruben Amorim also praising new arrival Heaven after the defender’s Premier League debut.
“I think he played really well,” Amorim said. “He’s really comfortable with the ball, sometimes more than he should be! He is so relaxed and that is a good thing. He’s very aggressive. I think we have a very good player.”
United remain 14th after the draw, while part of their focus remains on the Europa League. Their round of 16 meeting with Real Sociedad is all-square going into the second leg at Old Trafford, where midfielder Manuel Ugarte could feature again after injury.
Uruguay international Ugarte scored his first United goal in February in a draw with Everton. He has missed the last two league and Europa League games, but is close to returning.
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