Manchester United plan Dean Henderson sale to raise money for Everton keeper Jordan Pickford
Manchester United will look to sell Dean Henderson in order to raise funds to bid for Everton keeper Jordan Pickford, according to the Daily Mail.
David de Gea’s contract is coming to an end and Old Trafford and the club have earmarked the Toffees star as a replacement.
Frank Lampard wants to keep hold of his number one but a long-expected contract extension has not materialised amid an unexplained delay in the Everton boardroom, throwing his long-term future into doubt with just 18-months left on his current deal.
The situation has alerted interested Premier League rivals, including Chelsea and Tottenham, to the possibility that the 28-year-old will soon be available.
And in order to facilitate an approach the Red Devils will reportedly look to recoup cash from the sale of one-time starter and current Nottingham Forest loanee Henderson.
The fact that Pickford lives in Cheshire is reportedly “one box checked” in being deemed a suitably replacement for De Gea.
Movement
There has to be a reason for the delay in re-signing the Everton keeper, with the indications being that it is the club rather than the player that is holding back.
With Tottenham thought to be keen on him to replace the ageing Hugo Lloris and Chelsea considering him amid uncertainty over Kepa Arrizabalaga and Edouard Mendy it is possible that the Toffees hierarchy believe an imminent sale could be most profitable.
But if there is so much interest in him, from clubs who haven’t been shy in spending money in recent years, then surely it would make sense to protect his value with an extension either way.
Just when the focus was about to turn to who the club could bring in during the January window to address the miserable slide towards the relegation zone, the question of a major part of the squad leaving his arisen in a big way.
In addition to whatever damage a Pickford exit would do in terms of quality it would also be the wrong look for star players to keep leaving, after Richarlison went to Spurs in the summer.
As England number one the 28-year-old has been tipped to leave to protect his international place, and it looks like movement is afoot among Champions League clubs to provide that opportunity, but the message that sends out to Toffees fans certainly isn’t overly reassuring.