Manchester United are on course to sign Crystal Palace goalkeeper Jack Butland on an initial loan until the end of the season, 90min understands.
90min reported on Wednesday that talks for Butland were ongoing, with United seeking additional cover for David de Gea following the premature end of Martin Dubravka’s loan from Newcastle.
Enquiries were made to Palace about both Butland and Sam Johnstone, the latter a former United academy graduate. But the Eagles responded that only Butland, who was previously a Premier League number one for Stoke and a member of England’s 2018 World Cup squad, is available.
Butland is out of contract at Selhurst Park in the summer. He has been a backup to Vicente Guaita throughout his time at Palace and was nursing a fractured finger earlier this season that he has now recovered from. Having been back on the bench twice in December, the 29-year-old was not in the matchday squad for the visit of Tottenham on Wednesday night.
90min understands that a longer-term deal for Butland remains a possibility in the summer, although United accept that another goalkeeping target in Yann Sommer will be heading elsewhere.
The Red Devils had retained interest in Switzerland number one Sommer, but as a free agent in the summer transfer window rather than a January arrival. Bayern Munich have also been in for the 34-year-old in light of Manuel Neuer’s season-ending injury and are expecting to seal a deal.
Sommer was only one of a number of possible options, as was Butland.
When it gets to summer, United still have goalkeeping decisions to make. Talks with David de Gea over a new contract are ongoing, with his current deal expiring this year.
90min has previously reported that United are not expecting to trigger the 12-month extension clause and will instead negotiate a new deal on lower wages than his existing £375,000 weekly pay packet, or bid farewell to their number one of 12 years.
United must also decide what to do with Dean Henderson, who is on loan at Nottingham Forest. He is not keen to return to Old Trafford, having previously failed to establish himself. There is no permanent option in his Forest loan but United hope his spell there will generate interest.
Source: 90min.com