Minnesota United: Vito Mannone the necessary Bobby Shuttleworth improvement

Minnesota United had one final need to address this offseason: Improving upon Bobby Shuttleworth. They seem to have found their man in Italian Vito Mannone from Championship side Reading.

First reported by media outlets in England, and then confirmed by Jeff Rueter from The Athletic, Minnesota United are set to bring in goalkeeper Vito Mannone on loan.

Currently at Reading, and formerly of Arsenal, Hull City, and Sunderland, Mannone has a wealth of experience in both the English Championship and the English Premier League, having made 80 and 82 appearances respectively.

The 30-year-old started 41 matches for Reading in the Championship last season, but was dropped from the starting XI, making just six appearances this season.

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Despite this, a player with his resume is almost unheard of in MLS, with just two other goalkeepers in the entire league having Premier League experience (Brad Guzan and Tim Howard), and those both returning to their home country, which shifts the personal motivation to join MLS slightly.

Moreover, starting experience in the Championship, nevermind the Premier League, is nothing to scoff at, either. Manone may not be an elite MLS keeper, but he should certainly be in the top half of starters, given his pedigree.

And at 30 years of age, he is not especially old for a goalkeeper. Howard was 37 when he moved back to MLS, for comparison’s sake, and was at the peak of his powers with Everton at 30. Manone is in his absolute prime. Signing a European goalkeeper in their prime is not usual for an MLS club.

This offseason, Minnesota were wanting to find a goalkeeper who is a clear improvement over Bobby Shuttleworth. Shuttleworth was inconsistent at best last season, with many suggesting that the lack of confidence he instils in the defence a key reason for the Loons’ drastically poor defensive record. Mannone seems to fit that bill.

If Mannone can provide a stop-gap for Minnesota this year, it may clear the way for Dayne St. Clair to be ready to start next season. If the young Canadian isn’t quite ready, then the Loons will either have to find another short-term replacement or give Shuttleworth the job for one more season.

It will be interesting to see how Mannone does in MLS this season, and whether or not he proves to be a clear improvement over Shuttleworth. But he has the pedigree to flourish. He now has to prove it.