Veteran goalkeeper Tom Heaton is reportedly in talks with Manchester United over a potential one-year contract extension, despite not having made an appearance for the team in the past two seasons. Now 39, Heaton has mainly served as the third-choice option behind Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir. However, with doubts surrounding both of those goalkeepers, there’s growing interest in what role Heaton might play moving forward.
Onana has faced criticism due to a series of notable mistakes, leading to uncertainty about his future as United’s starting goalkeeper. Bayindir, on the other hand, hasn’t had much of an impact and is expected to leave the club soon. Since rejoining United, Heaton has played only three times in four years, though he was recently named in the squad for the 1-1 draw against Bournemouth under new manager Ruben Amorim.
According to the Daily Mail, United may look to keep Heaton around for another year, valuing his experience and leadership in the dressing room. While some believed he might shift into a coaching role, it appears the club still sees value in having him as a squad member. Should he agree to stay, he would become one of the rare players still active in the Premier League at the age of 40.
Talks of Onana leaving for Saudi Arabian club Neom have also surfaced, but sources suggest such speculation is still early. Although the Saudi Pro League has shown interest, any serious move for the Cameroonian is likely to draw strong competition from European clubs.
Manager Ruben Amorim seems to be prioritizing other areas for improvement this summer, possibly giving Onana another chance after a challenging campaign. Reinforcing United’s forward line is reportedly top of the agenda, with a £62.5 million deal for Wolves striker Matheus Cunha close to completion. The club is also monitoring Liam Delap, who could be available for £30 million following Ipswich Town’s drop from the Premier League.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Amorim kept his transfer plans close to the chest, stating that although his decisions are made, he won’t reveal anything until the season ends. He acknowledged that situations can evolve quickly, especially when unexpected injuries like Amad’s occur, but made it clear he has a firm vision for what the squad needs going into the next campaign.
