Manchester City are making progress in their pursuit of Pierce Charles, with optimism growing that a deal can be agreed for the Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper, according to Sky Sports’ Adrian Kajumba.
Charles, 20, began his career in City’s academy before leaving for Sheffield Wednesday in 2021, and has since established himself as the Owls’ first-choice goalkeeper, making 27 league appearances last season and being named Northern Ireland’s senior number one. Wednesday’s relegation to League One has left several Premier League clubs, including City, monitoring his situation heading into the final year of his contract.
A move for Charles has been framed as part of City’s succession planning in goal, with James Trafford expected to leave the Etihad this summer after struggling for game time behind Gianluigi Donnarumma. City are understood to see Charles as a long-term option to develop as Donnarumma’s understudy, with the added benefit that he would count towards the club’s homegrown quota.
Charles has entered exploratory talks over a new contract at Hillsborough, but the club are braced for a fight to keep hold of him given his contract situation and the level of interest from elsewhere, with Celtic, Rangers and RC Strasbourg among the other clubs credited with interest.
Should City complete a deal, Charles would be expected to spend time learning under Donnarumma rather than challenging immediately for the No.1 shirt, with a loan move also possible depending on how City’s goalkeeping plans develop over the coming weeks.
