Brighton goalkeeper Carl Rushworth is amongst the options being explored by Manchester United, talkSPORT understands.
United need to strengthen their goalkeeping department this summer with veteran Tom Heaton and Altay Bayindir both expected to leave.
Rushworth, who Brighton value in excess of £5m, is expected to push for a move after finding his route to the first team blocked by the form of Bart Verbruggen.
The 23-year-old, who spent the first half of the season on loan at Hull, is also being tracked by West Ham and believes he is ready to play in the Premier League.
However, the young keeper wasn’t always as confident in his football dreams becoming a reality.
After starting at Crossley Juniors FC, defying his parents’ preference for rugby league, Rushworth was picked up by Huddersfield Town where he remained until he was 16.
But the keeper’s early career was plagued with rejections. After being released by Huddersfield, the now 23-year-old trialled at Bradford, Chesterfield and Rochdale, only to receive no’s.
“I kind of felt like I was in a downward spiral and everything was going wrong,” said Rushworth.
“I was actually having meetings at my school then because I was thinking about sixth form.
“I thought I wasn’t going to make a career out of football, so I had to have that back-up.”
He continued: “Fortunately, Halifax got involved, they told me if it did not work with the other three clubs they would have a space for me.”
During his stint at the non-league side and still unsure about his long-term prospects in the game, Rushworth started working other jobs alongside his football and studies.
The youngster, now on United’s radar, has admitted he enjoyed spells working in a nightclub, on a ski slope and in the insurance industry.
“I was working in a nightclub doing glass collecting,” said Rushworth, “I wasn’t old enough to work behind the bar!”
During his time at a ski slope, the keeper took on a position as a waiter in a cafe.
“I wasn’t very good,” shared Rushworth.
“On my first shift, I went and took the orders from the tables and gave them to the kitchen, but when they rang the bell for service I had no idea what it meant.
“I didn’t do anything, so I think a few people didn’t get their food or their food was pretty cold by the time they got it.
“I was back on the ski slope pretty soon after that!”
Rushworth’s efforts at Halifax meant he soon lined up a trio of trials with Premier League teams: Manchester United, Arsenal and Brighton.
“I went down to Brighton and saw their facilities, then Manchester United,” said the 23-year-old.
“It’s amazing just seeing it all and walking past some of the players around the training ground.
“I was thinking ‘I was just at the college two days ago and now I’m down here’.
“I had some time at Arsenal, too. It flipped my world upside down and I loved every minute of it.”
Rushworth was a boyhood United fan and with the ground just down the road from his family, he faced a tough choice.
On his decision to join the south-coast side, he said: “When it came to deciding, I had spent the most time at Brighton. I went there first and absolutely loved it.”
As part of his development with the Seagulls, the keeper has had spells with Worthing, Walsall, Lincoln City and Swansea.
Brighton recalled Rushworth from Hull in January 2025 as they confirmed fellow goalkeeper Jason Steele was due to have surgery.
