Who is Nathan Bishop? Southend goalkeeper linked with move to Man Utd

Manchester United have been heavily linked with a move for Southend United goalkeeper Nathan Bishop.

Southend manager Sol Campbell revealed that Bishop was close to leaving the club on Tuesday night, saying: "He's having a medical, I don't know where but if he passes the medical he's gone."

It has been widely reported that Bishop will join United's development squad.

Here, we've put together a profile on the Southend goalkeeper.

Name: Nathan Bishop

Date of birth: October 15, 1999

Place of birth: Hilingdon, England

Current contract expires: June 30, 2021. Option for further year.

Career history: Bishop joined Southend as a youngster and first started appearing in the senior squad as an unused substitute during the 2016/17 season, aged just 17.

He would then spend the following season as the Shrimpers' second choice goalie and made his senior debut half-way through the campaign as a second-half substitute. Conceding twice as they lost 3-1 to Scunthrope United.

Bishop had to wait a day short of a year for his next league match but got the opportunity due to the absence of first choice Mark Oxley.

His understudy managed to keep three clean sheets in his first six games in the side, but then failed to keep the ball out of his net or win a game in his next 12 appearances.

Bishop and Oxley have continued to share game time this season, with the latter being the first choice, as Southend have struggled at the bottom of League One and look certain for relegation.

The United target has made 16 appearances in all competitions this season, conceding 46 goals and keeping no cleansheets.

That perhaps isn't a reflection on his ability due to how poor Southend are, however, and he remains highly rated having made his England U20 debut in a 4-0 win over Guatemala. Bishop was also involved in the Toulon Tournament squad last summer.