Notts County should not be prioritising Sunderland transfer swoop: View | OneFootball

Notts County continue to be linked with several players during the early stages of the transfer window but are yet to make their first move.

The Magpies announced their retained list almost a month ago, with a clear focus on a defensive restructure at the club, having conceded 86 league goals throughout the season, with the likes of Aden Baldwin, Richard Brindley, Connell Rawlinson, Tobi Adebayo and Aidan Stone all leaving Meadow Lane.

As a result, the subsequent rumours have seen several defenders and goalkeepers linked with a move to the East Midlands, with Notts reportedly interested in pursuing a deal for a player at a club they have dealt with recently.

Matty Young transfer latest

According to a Patreon report from journalist Alan Nixon, the Magpies are reportedly interested in teenage Sunderland goalkeeper Matty Young.

The 17-year-old joined National League North side Darlington for the second half of the season, and his impressive performances have seen him linked with a move to a club in the Football League as he continues to gain experience during the early stages of his career.

If the transfer was to be completed, it would be considered a major coup for Stuart Maynard heading into his first full season in charge, with Young reportedly attracting the interest of Manchester United and Manchester City for his services.

It would also not be the first time a young goalkeeper from Wearside has made the move to Meadow Lane, having seen Anthony Patterson spend the 2021/22 season on loan Notts, going on to become the Black Cats' number one and going on to make over 100 first-team appearances.

While the deal offers an exciting young goalkeeper for the Magpies to take under their wing for a season, it remains to be seen whether the 17-year-old is the right answer to a position that has been under scrutiny for a number of campaigns.

Notts County should not pursue a loan deal for Matty Young

Following the announcement of the club's retained list last month, Notts have two senior goalkeepers within their ranks after Aidan Stone was told he was able to explore opportunities away from Meadow Lane in the summer.

That leaves just Sam Slocombe and Tiernan Brooks at the club, with the Republic of Ireland U21 international tipped for a bright future with the Magpies having impressed during their National League promotion season and within the academy.

While Young's statistics are impressive this season, especially given his age and it being his first loan spell of his professional career, it seems like an option that Notts should steer clear of as they continue to restructure their defensive options.

The deal would not be alien to the club having taken a number of young goalkeepers on loan over the past couple of seasons.

Most recently, Fulham's Luca Ashby-Hammond cemented himself as the number one at the club before returning to Craven Cottage at the end of the season, while Leicester City's Brad Young and Archie Mair of Norwich City have also made the loan move to Meadow Lane.

But a lot has been made about the Magpies' defensive fragility last season, having conceded 86 times in the league, therefore the announcement that five of the nine players allowed to leave the club were in the back line was seen as no surprise.

While the need for new, fresh defenders is evident, it is also ensuring that the right blend of experience of playing League Two football is crucial, and something Richard Montague, along with Christoffer and Alexander Reedtz, will surely be prioritising when looking at their recruitment plan for the summer transfer window.

It's imperative with a defensive restructure that you have a solid base – an experienced goalkeeper that can compete with the physicality of the demands of fourth tier football.

While Young has shown he can deal with the physical side of men's football in the National League North, it feels as though the Notts hierarchy cannot afford to take the risk of bringing in a 17-year-old to compete with Slocombe for the number one spot. The Magpies must focus on a keeper who provides stability and confidence to the defenders in front of him.

It remains to be seen the involvement of Brooks in the upcoming season and he could be a player who emerges from the shadows to compete for regular first-team football.

The Sunderland youngster has a bright future in the game and a loan move to the Football League still remains a possibility next season but Notts County should not be his destination.