Manchester United have sensationally blocked the departure of 37-year-old goalkeeper Tom Heaton as their goalkeeping crisis continues to spiral this summer.
Heaton, who didn’t make an appearance for the Red Devils last season, was due to join freshly promoted Luton Town on a free transfer, but the Red Devils have been forced to activate the optional one year extension to his deal as they look to navigate their way through a difficult summer.
The decision follows the shock revelation that David de Gea had signed a new deal only for Manchester United to withdraw the offer, leaving the Spaniard a free agent in 48 hours as things stand, though he could yet sign a new deal on signficantly reduced wages.
That, combined with Jack Butland’s loan from Crystal Palace coming to an end, means that Heaton is the Red Devils’ only senior goalkeeper as things stand, and as a result he has been denied a move to the Hatters.
Dean Henderson, who spent last season on loan at Nottingham Forest, is widely expected to make that move permanent in the weeks to come, and it means that the no.1 spot has become a new transfer priority for the Red Devils.
It was previously thought that a striker (Harry Kane) and a midfielder (Mason Mount) were top targets, but Inter Milan’s no.1 Andre Onana has now shot up the list.
However, he will set any interested club back around £50m, a fee which could make other summer business problematic. With the window not shutting until three weeks into the season, Ten Hag faces the very real possibility of heading into the new campaign with Heaton in a much more prominent role than last season.
