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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Fabrizio Romano, Jacob Steinberg and Will Unwin

Nottingham Forest want Manchester United’s Dean Henderson on loan

Dean Henderson
Dean Henderson playing for Manchester United against Young Boys last December – one of three appearances last season. Photograph: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images

Nottingham Forest have opened talks with Manchester United with a view to signing Dean Henderson on loan with the option to buy the goalkeeper for about £20m.

Points of negotiation include whether an arrangement can be reached over Henderson’s salary. The 25-year-old keeper played only three times last season – once each in the Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup – as David de Gea held down the No 1 spot.

Newcastle have also expressed interest in Henderson but will not take that further unless the conditions of any transfer change.

Forest were promoted to the Premier League via the playoffs with Brice Samba as their first-choice goalkeeper. He played all but six of their Championship and playoff matches, with Ethan Horvath his understudy, but has turned down a new deal and the pursuit of Henderson indicates he could leave.

Henderson has come through the United academy and was given hope he could establish himself at the club when he played 10 of the final 12 Premier League matches of the 2020-21 season. But De Gea was preferred again last August by Ole Gunnar Solskjær and his form meant he was retained by Michael Carrick and Ralf Rangnick after the Norwegian was sacked.

Henderson has spent seasons on loan at Shrewsbury and Sheffield United, including one in the Premier League. In November 2020 he won his only England cap and he was included in the Euro 2020 squad before withdrawing injured. Manchester United also have the 36-year-old Tom Heaton as back-up.

West Ham are concerned their bid to sign Alphonse Areola could be derailed by Newcastle’s interest in the Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper. Areola is expected to leave PSG after spending last season on loan at West Ham, who are hopeful of making the deal permanent for about £11m. David Moyes relied on him during his side’s run to the last four of the Europa League and believes the France international can challenge Lukasz Fabianski for the No 1 spot.

Alphonse Areola makes a save for West Ham against Sevilla in March.
Alphonse Areola makes a save for West Ham against Sevilla in March. Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA

However West Ham could miss out on Areola after it emerged Newcastle are tracking the 29-year-old. Newcastle want a goalkeeper to compete with Martin Dubravka and their financial power could give them an advantage.

Fulham have also looked at Areola, who spent the 2020-21 season on loan there, but are unlikely to be able to afford his wages. West Ham have led the race and it would be a blow for Moyes if he missed out on a player who settled well. An alternative option could be Nick Pope, who could leave Burnley after their relegation.

West Ham are closing in on a deal to sign Nayef Aguerd from Rennes for €35m (£30.2m). The Morocco centre-back is expected to undergo a medical this week.

Southampton have agreed a deal to sign the Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu from Manchester City for £12m plus add-ons. Fraser Forster, who played half of Southampton’s league games last season, has left for Tottenham.

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