Jack Butland is set to join Manchester United.
The goalkeeper will have a medical at United’s Aon training facility in Carrington ahead of a loan deal from Crystal Palace that will last until the end of the season.
Butland is expected to act as a backup to David de Gea, with Tom Heaton as the third-choice goalkeeper.
Newcastle United recalled previous loan back Martin Dubravka this week.
Athletic reports that “Butland has six more months on his deal with Palace, although the club has the option to extend his contract for a further year.
Butland was under consideration at United last summer before Dubravka joined. He also has a home in the Manchester area from his stint at Stoke City.
“United had considered removing Dean Henderson from his loan at Nottingham Forest, but the 25-year-old is believed to be better off staying at the City Ground.”
Butland tops the bill at Palace, with Vincent Guaita filling the starting job for the side and Sam Johnstone available as a backup.
It is possible that the goalkeeper could sign in time to make his debut tomorrow against Everton, although it seems unlikely.
Whether or not the deal becomes permanent could depend on the future of David de Gea and Dean Henderson.
United are in talks with the Spaniard over a new contract as his current deal expires in June, however the club want him to take a drastic pay cut to stay.
Meanwhile, Henderson is unwilling to play second fiddle and is unlikely to have shown enough during his loan at Nottingham Forest to convince Erik ten Hag that he can become United’s number one.
Assuming Henderson moves on, it’s likely that if De Gea stays, someone capable of challenging him for the No. 1 spot will be signed in the summer.
World Cup hero Yassine Bounou, FC Porto’s Diogo Costa and Borussia Moenchengladbach’s Yann Sommer have all been linked with a move to Old Trafford.
