Manchester City enter Premier League quintuple race for generational goalkeeping talent | OneFootball

Manchester City are battling the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea for Birmingham City goalkeeper Alfie Smith, as per a new report.

City overhauled their goalkeeping department in the summer transfer window with the acquisitions of Marcus Bettinelli from Chelsea, James Trafford from Burnley and Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain.

Ederson completed a £12.1 million deadline day exit to Fenerbahce, with Stefan Ortega Moreno staying put despite widespread interest in the 32-year-old Germany international from clubs in England and abroad.

Hugo Viana’s appointment as Manchester City’s director of football has followed a major rebuild of Pep Guardiola’s first-team squad, which recorded a disappointing third-place Premier League finish with 71 points last season.

City have sent summer signing Sverre Nypan, 18, on loan to Middlesbrough for the 2025-26 campaign for the 18-year-old Norwegian midfield to progress his development with regular playing time in the EFL Championship.

Mail Sport are reporting that Manchester City have entered the race to sign Birmingham City goalkeeper Alfie Smith amid interest from Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea.

Smith became the second youngest goalkeeper to be fielded at U-18 Premier League level recently, starting in goal for the EFL Championship club’s youth side in a 4-3 triumph over Fulham last weekend.

Clubs across England have been alerted to the talents possessed by the U-16 England international, who has his best years ahead of him and is widely regarded as one of England’s brightest-ever young prospects.

Manchester City’s prestigious academy has attracted top-tier talent from across the globe since the club’s Abu Dhabi takeover in 2008, with officials at the Etihad Stadium already taking notice to Smith’s heroics for Birmingham City.

Birmingham have a rich record of producing elite academy graduates, with Real Madrid and England star Jude Bellingham having graduated from St. Andrew’s to go on and establish himself as one of the world’s best in his position at Borussia Dortmund and now Real Madrid.

Former NFL star Tom Brady, owner of Birmingham City, and co are working behind the scenes to tie down Smith to a long-term deal with his boyhood club as clubs in the Premier League look to poach the teenage superstar.

Smith played a scintillating 70-yard pass to set up Birmingham U-18s’ opener against Fulham last week, underscoring the ridiculous talent possessed by the young Three Lion, who will undoubtedly have the likes of Manchester City eyeing his signature as the season progresses.