TOM HEATON is set to sign a new one-year contract with Manchester United.
United expect to agree a renewal with third-choice goalkeeper Heaton, who rejoined the club in 2021.
Heaton, 40, has not played for United since the 2023 League Cup semi-final second leg against Nottingham Forest but is a member of the six-man leadership group.
Outgoing United midfielder Casemiro said last week that Heaton is “a very important player” in the squad.
Heaton’s presence will maintain some continuity in the United goalkeeping department amid the club’s plans to sell Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir.
Bayindir is expected to return to Turkey to sign for Besiktas and United will listen to offers for Onana, who has spent the season on loan at Trabzonspor.
Read more in football
Retaining former England international Heaton would also ease United’s issues with homegrown players when they re-enter the Champions League next season.
Kobbie Mainoo has been the only ever-present academy graduate in United’s matchday squads this season and clubs competing in Uefa competitions must register four ‘club-trained’ players.
Because Mainoo was born after Januaru 1 2005, he will still be eligible for the ‘B list’ – which is for club trained players who have been with their current side for a minimum of two years.
Heaton, Amad and Luke Shaw would count as ‘club-trained’ players while Harry Maguire and Mason Mount would be considered ‘association-trained’.
Most read in Sport
BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK
Heaton was listed among United’s club-trained squad members the last time they qualified for the Champions League in 2023, along with Scott McTominay, Jonny Evans and Marcus Rashford.
United sold McTominay in 2024, Evans retired last year and is now on the coaching staff while United plan to sell Rashford, whose season-long loan with Barcelona is about to end.
Heaton was first named in a United matchday squad in September 2006 and he left the club permanently for Cardiff City in 2010.
United re-signed Heaton in 2021 when he was released by Aston Villa. Heaton returned to United under the assumption he would be number two to Dean Henderson.
However, Henderson contracted Covid-19 in pre-season and United abandoned plans to sell David de Gea.
Heaton made his United debut against Young Boys in the Champions League in December 2021.
