Manchester United

Manchester United

Premier League • England

Man Utd transfer on brink of collapse, as Ten Hag fumble sees patience run out and alternative targets considered

Man Utd manager Erik ten Hag

The plug could be pulled on an ‘advanced’ Man Utd transfer, with Erik ten Hag’s indecision prompting alternative targets to be considered, per reports.

ESPN recently declared Man Utd’s ambitions in the summer window are being hamstrung by mistakes made by the previous regime.

Ten Hag is understood to be targeting three dream signings, with Andre Onana, Mason Mount and Harry Kane his ideal outcome.

However, money is tight and with Mount costing £60m and Inter Milan commanding upwards of €50m for Onana, there’ll be little left over for the frontman.

The situation has arisen due to poor decision-making in the Ed Woodward era. Making David de Gea the highest paid goalkeeper in the world on £375,000-a-week and forking out £73m for Jadon Sancho despite a lack of rival interest were key examples cited.

As such, Sancho and fellow England international Harry Maguire are reportedly up for sale. Their exits, combined with departures for the likes of Dean Henderson, Alex Telles, Eric Bailly and Anthony Martial, to name just four, would boost Ten Hag’s coffers.

Henderson, 26, emerged as a concrete target for Nottingham Forest where he spent last season on loan.

talkSPORT claimed the permanent switch was ‘advanced’ back in early-June, though updates on the move have since gone quiet.

Now, a fresh update from Football Insider has explained why, with Henderson’s switch to Forest now in serious danger of collapsing.

De Gea saga preventing other moves

FI claim the uncertainty surrounding David de Gea has prompted United to halt any goalkeeper exits.

Tom Heaton is also on the books and asked to leave to go in search of regular game-time. Newly-promoted Luton Town were linked, though per the Telegraph, Ten Hag blocked Heaton’s exit.

It’s a similar story involving Henderson, with FI claiming Forest ‘could now pull the plug’ on the move that is at a standstill.

Steve Cooper’s side are believed to be weighing up whether to begin exploring alternative targets. Put simply, Man Utd aren’t allowing any goalkeepers to leave while the De Gea saga rumbles on.

The 32-year-old saw his United contract expire at midnight last night. A move for Inter’s Onana has been heavily linked, though per the Independent, Ten Hag is yet to sever ties with De Gea completely.

They state United are ‘set to continue contract talks’ with the Spaniard despite it being widely known his limitations in possession aren’t to the Dutchman’s liking.

The Athletic revealed last week that De Gea had penned a new United contract on reduced terms, only for the club to refuse to sign their own document.

Instead, they put forward a revised deal on even lower terms which De Gea did not sign. He’s now a free agent, but Ten Hag and United haven’t yet determined whether to stick or twist.

With the De Gea ordeal dragging on, Forest are being prevented from signing Henderson and a permanent switch that would swell United’s transfer budget is now under a dark cloud.

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