Casper arrives at the City Football Academy

Manchester City have taken Charlie Casper on trial. The 21-year-old goalkeeper was a key figure for Vincent Kompany during his time at Burnley, and now gets a chance to impress at the Academy Stadium.

Kompany fast-tracked Casper into the Burnley first team when he was just 17. The teenager never played a senior game for the Clarets, but the former City captain clearly saw something special. That Burnley side romped to the EFL Championship title in 2023 with a record-breaking 101 points.

Casper has only three EFL appearances to his name, all for Grimsby Town. He has also had a loan spell at National League North side Alfreton Town. This summer he was on trial at Barnsley before City came calling.

Barnsley understand the appeal. The League One club accept that a trial at Manchester City is an opportunity Casper could not turn down. They are expected to monitor the situation closely.

City's coaches will now decide if Casper is good enough for the Under-21s. If they offer a permanent deal, he could join the City Football Academy setup or be sent out on loan. If not, Barnsley are ready to come back in with a proposal.

Casper is the son of former Manchester United defender Chris Casper. That fact will raise a few eyebrows among the blue half of Manchester, but football has a funny way of crossing old rivalries.

Goalkeeper shuffle continues

Gianluigi Donnarumma remains City's first-choice goalkeeper. James Trafford and Marcus Bettinelli are the current back-ups, though that is about to change. Leeds United have confirmed negotiations with City to sign Trafford for an initial £40 million, plus £5 million in add-ons and a sell-on clause.

If Trafford departs, Casper would face competition from Jack Wint, who has 38 appearances across the Under-18s, Under-21s and Youth League. New manager Enzo Maresca has arrived, and City have placed a growing emphasis on improving their academy sides in recent seasons.

The Blues are also set to permanently sell Joel Ndala to Belgian Pro League side Cercle Brugge. It is a summer of change at the Etihad Campus.

Whether Casper becomes part of that change remains to be seen. For now, he gets a trial at a club that knows a thing or two about producing goalkeepers.