Man Utd face major squad crisis on eve of new Premier League season.. and it could affect transfer plans
MANCHESTER UNITED are facing a goalkeeper crisis on the eve of the Premier League.
It comes after No2 Tom Heaton suffered an injury ruling him out of the Red Devils’ season opener against Wolves.
It leaves Andre Onana as the only fit senior goalkeeper at the club.
SunSport revealed how Dean Henderson‘s transfer to Nottingham Forest had been delayed by a thigh injury, which he is still nursing.
Meanwhile, United have already sold Nathan Bishop to Sunderland while David de Gea left the club on a free transfer earlier this summer.
United are also set to sell forgotten goalkeeper Matej Kovar, according to reports.
And this means the club will now likely need to call up Under-21 goalkeeper Radek Vitek.
Vitek, 19, featured once for United in pre-season.
The Czech goalkeeper played 16 Premier League 2 games for United last season, having joined the club in 2020.
In the case of 23-year-old Kovar, he has been with United since 2018.
However, he is now set to be sold after failing to make a single first-team appearance for the club.
Kovar, who stands at 6ft 5in, will be snapped up by Bayer Leverkusen.
According to , the German outfit will pay just under £8million for his signature.
The Czech youth international will reportedly have his medical later today.
Kovar spent last season on loan at Sparta Prague, where he helped them win the league title.
Czech outlet adds the Red Devils have inserted a buy-back clause into the deal with the first right of refusal on a transfer.
Kovar appeared twice for United at the start of pre-season.
With Kovar set to become the third goalkeeper to leave United after De Gea – who is now set to join Real Madrid – and Bishop, Henderson is expected to follow suit by the end of the window.
However, his proposed transfer to Forest hit a major snag after Steve Cooper‘s side signed Arsenal reserve goalie Matt Turner.
But SunSport has revealed the reason for Forest’s hesitancy in striking a deal is due to an injury.
The 26-year-old underwent an operation in May after suffering a thigh tear in January.
And it is the severity of this issue which has prevented him from completing a move to the City Ground.
SunSport understands there remains a real threat that the strenuous medical required by Forest risks aggravating his injury and causing more damage.
Man Utd are reluctant to risk a further setback for the academy graduate, so they are not yet willing to sanction a move yet.
Both parties are now willing to wait until he has fully recovered.
While an exact timeframe has not yet been put on Henderson’s recovery, Forest are hoping to complete a deal for him towards the end of the transfer window.
United themselves are also in the market for a new goalkeeper, with Fenerbahce’s Altay Bayindir on their radar.
In the meantime, the Turkish outfit are close to completing a deal to sign Fred for £13m.
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