Man Utd pushing to sign Championship star - He could be Ruben Amorim's first summer signing | OneFootball

This would be a surprise move for the 28-year-old.

Manchester United are preparing a deal to sign Preston North End goalkeeper Freddie Woodman this summer.

English goalkeepers unexpectedly jumping up the football pyramid has become more commonplace over recent seasons, with clubs in the upper divisions looking to add good characters to their dressing room; they also help with the English players quota that they have to meet.

John Ruddy, 38, made the move from Birmingham City to Newcastle United last summer. Alex Cairns, 32, was bought by Leeds United from League Two side Salford City. Maybe most infamous of all is Scott Carson's long-standing tenure with Manchester City.

Their local rivals, the Red Devils, are now looking to get in on the act too, with Preston's Woodman being the one that they are going after.

Manchester United set to make move for Freddie Woodman

Ruben Amorim's side are working on a deal that would see the soon-to-be free agent move to Old Trafford this summer once his current deal with Preston expires, according to Football Insider.

Their own veteran, third-choice shot-stopper, Tom Heaton, is set to leave the club in the summer, and Woodman is being eyed as his replacement. The online outlet have also claimed that Turkish international goalkeeper Altay Bayindir is also expected to depart in the coming months.

News of the Premier League side's interest in the 28-year-old was broken by Alan Nixon. Blackburn Rovers' Aynsley Pears has also been considered by Man U alongside the former Newcastle number two, as well as former Hull City loanee Carl Rushworth, according to talkSPORT.

Preston are looking at Venezia's Jesse Joronen as a potential replacement for Woodman, as per The Sun journalist.

As well as the North End keeper, United are expected to try and bring in someone to compete with their mistake-prone current first-choice goalkeeper, Andre Onana, a decision that Amorim made just two months into his tenure with the club, according to the Manchester Evening News.

They have been linked with several options, including Porto and Portugal number one Diogo Costa, but acquiring a potential replacement for Onana won't be as easy as signing Woodman.

Freddie Woodman should leap at the Man United opportunity

The 28-year-old already has experience of being the back-up for a Premier League side, so he shouldn't be overwhelmed by the prospect of the bright lights of Old Trafford.

Even though the Red Devils are nowhere near where they'd like to be - they sit 14th in the Premier League on 38 points from 33 games - it's not often that a player like Woodman will have the chance to play for a club of the size of Man United.

There probably won't be much playing involved if he does make the move this summer, but he will be well compensated for sitting on the bench most of the time. It really isn't a bad deal for him.