Man Utd 'preparing' for transfer departure of goalkeeper as Aussie World Cup 2023 star targeted

Manchester United are drawing up a list of targets as they 'prepare for the departure' of Mary Earps, according to reports.

The Lionesses superstar has been heavily linked with a move away this summer and concerns the goalkeeper was set to leave were intensified yesterday when it was claimed Earps 'cut an isolated figure' and appeared to 'not want to be there' at a recent club event.

Those concerns appear to have been amplified by the news United have drawn up a list of potential replacements for the 30-year-old with Australian World Cup star and West Ham goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold said to be the club's top target for take the reigns, according to The Mirror.

Earps, who has just one year left on her current deal at United, has been subject of a 'world record fee' from fellow WSL club Arsenal in recent weeks and while Marc Skinner had made tying her down to a new deal a priority this summer, there's genuine worry that she will NOT sign a new deal and that has forced the club into identifying replacements for her.

Arnold, 29, was one of the stars of this summer's World Cup as Australia reached the semi finals of the tournament for the first time when she saved three penalties to help her country defeat France in breathtaking fashion. She also played 20 times in the Women's Super League last year as the Hammers finished eighth.

Alongside West Ham's Arnold, Kathryn Batte from the MailOnline reports that OL Reign goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce is another target for the club but that the club have yet to reach an agreement on a fee for the New Yorker.

The 26-year-old American goalkeeper has spent time in Europe previously having played for Stade de Reims Féminines in France before her move to OL Reign in 2021. Tullis-Joyce recently signed a new deal with the club that runs until 2024, so any move for the 'keeper will require a fee from United.

Winner of the Golden Glove at the World Cup this summer, Earps also received a nomination for the Ballon d'Or earlier this week as her stock continues to grow in the game and United will be hoping that, if she is to leave, they don't have a similar situation to that of Alessia Russo, who moved to Arsenal for free six months after they rejected a world record £500,000 bid.

Earps herself has remained largely tight lipped on the situation throughout, choosing to focus on England's World Cup campaign this summer though there have been signs of unrest, with the player admitting her future was 'uncertain' back in May.

Earlier in the week, midfielder Carrie Jones was the latest outgoing at Leigh Sports Village when she completed a permanent move to newly promoted Bristol City, while Maria Thorisdottir also departed the club for Brighton and Hove Albion.

ManchesterWorld understands that Canadian forward Adriana Leon could also be departing the club in the coming weeks after a frustrating first season with the club that saw her move on loan to Portland Thorns after just six months.