Man Utd ‘close to re-signing Tom Heaton’ as revamp of goalkeeper department begins

Posted Wednesday, May 12, 2021 by Dailystar.co.uk

Dean Henderson will cement the No.1 shirt at Manchester United with David de Gea and Sergio Romero likely to leave, and former keeper Tom Heaton to come in from Aston Villa

Aston Villa goalkeeper Tom Heaton could be in for a sensational return to his boyhood club this summer if Manchester United’s overhaul goes ahead.

United’s keeper situation has been in the spotlight this season, with academy graduate Dean Henderson linked with a move away from the club before he took the No.1 jersey from David de Gea.

De Gea has since been tipped for a move abroad, especially if he doesn’t start the Europa League final, the only competition he currently features in.

While Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has said he wants to keen ‘two number ones’ in the squad, such a situation rarely works in practice.

Man Utd ‘close to re-signing Tom Heaton’ as revamp of goalkeeper department begins
Henderson has been Solskjaer's number one since March

Third-choice stopper Sergio Romero is almost certain to follow De Gea out of the exit door, with The Telegraph suggesting another link up with Jose Mourinho is possible, since the Argentine’s Italian passport will allow him to play for Roma.

As a replacement, United are said to be on the verge of bringing Tom Heaton back to Old Trafford for his second spell at the club.

The veteran goalkeeper is currently second-choice at Aston Villa, losing his place to former Arsenal keeper Emiliano Martinez, who signed after Heaton’s season-ending knee injury in 2020.

Despite returning in December, Heaton has not yet featured for Villa this season, and is said to be looking for a route back to the Red Devils.

Romero and De Gea could both leave United this summer

The 35-year-old joined United’s academy in 2002, but didn’t feature for the club in his five years as a professional.

After a series of loan spells, Heaton joined Cardiff City, then moved to Bristol City for one season, before establishing himself as No.1 and eventual club captain of then-Championship side Burnley.

Injuries saw Heaton fall down the pecking order at the Clarets, with fellow England internationals Joe Hart and Nick Pope emerging as Sean Dyche’s picks between the sticks.

Heaton’s £8m move to Villa looked to give him a new lease of life, earning an England recall in November 2019.

United will now hope Heaton can recover that form and put pressure on Henderson for the starting spot in the side.