Man Utd 'strike verbal agreement' in late contract talks as nine players axed

Ruben Amorim is set to retain Tom Heaton in his Man Utd squad for next season (Image: Getty)

Manchester United have reportedly agreed a contract extension with Tom Heaton which will take the veteran goalkeeper's playing career into his forties. United confirmed that they were in talks with Heaton, 39, as part of the official squad update they released on Monday.

In that announcement, the Red Devils revealed that Victor Lindelof, Christian Eriksen, Jonny Evans and six youth team stars would all be leaving upon the expiration of their contracts on June 30. Heaton, however, would appear to be staying put. According to The Sun, the two parties have reached a verbal agreement over a one-year extension, and the finer details will be ironed out over the coming days.

Heaton came through the academy at Old Trafford but left in 2010 without making a first-team appearance. He returned for his second spell in 2021, and has played only three games in the four years since.

The former Burnley stopper is still yet to play a Premier League minute for United despite the struggles of Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir ahead of him in the pecking order. If the contract extension is signed off, Heaton would be expected to fill the role of third-choice keeper for the 2025/26 campaign.

With three England caps to his name, Heaton has also represented the likes of Aston Villa, Bristol City and Cardiff. A major squad revamp is underway at Old Trafford but manager Ruben Amorim could still use a man of Heaton's experience in the dressing room.

Tom Heaton still hasn't played a Premier League minute for Man Utd (Image: Getty)

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United stumbled to a dismal 15th-place finish last season and their transfer business has centred around proven Premier League talent. Matheus Cunha was confirmed as a £62.5million signing from Wolves as soon as the summer window opened.

Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo is another serious target, with United seeing a £55m opening bid rejected. And Old Trafford chiefs went after Liam Delap following his goal-scoring exploits for Ipswich Town last season, but the youngster opted to sign for Chelsea.

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United may look to reshuffle their goalkeeper ranks before the second phase of the window slams shut, but it is thought to be a lower priority than strengthening their attack.

Onana has made a string of costly mistakes in the two years since his £47m switch from Inter Milan, and Bayindir has been inconsistent during brief stints in the first team. Emi Martinez, Vanja Milinkovic-Savic and Zion Suzuki are among the goalkeepers who are understood to have admirers at Old Trafford.