Manchester United could be about to give their summer transfer budget a major boost, with Nottingham Forest keen on a permanent move for Dean Henderson.
Goalkeeper Henderson, valued at around £30m, has spent the season on loan at the City Ground after leaving Old Trafford in search of regular first-team football. After securing their safety with victory over Arsenal on Saturday, Forest are ready to keep the young England stopper in the East Midlands permanently.
The one-cap Three Lions international was once tipped by former United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to become the club's starting goalkeeper. "This season has proved a great experience for him," Solskjaer said in 2020 after Henderson impressed on loan at Sheffield United. "He's done himself some favours with his performances, and proved he will be England's no 1 and Man United's no 1 at some point.
"It's not my job to keep the players happy or in the team or out of it. Part of it is their responsibility of performing and doing well. Dean has made some great choices over the years and developed fantastically - and still is."
However, after losing his battle with David de Gea last season, and seeing the Spaniard win the Premier League's golden glove this time around, Henderson looks likely to decide the time is right to move on.
Henderson played 13 Premier League games in the 2020-21 season as United finished second, but De Gea was reinstalled as No.1 last term and the Englishman didn't play a single minute in the league.
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Newly-promoted Forest sealed a season-long move for Henderson over the summer, and the 26-year-old was a regular under Steve Cooper before injury struck. Now Forest have made clear their hopes of a permanent move.
The keeper still hasn't returned from the thigh injury which has kept him on the sidelines since January. The Premier League strugglers brought in Keylor Navas on a short-term deal to cover for the absence, but are keen for Henderson to be their main man next term.
Cooper's side were as high as 13th when Henderson suffered his injury, but only a weekend win over Arsenal stopped their survival battle going down to the final day of the season. Taiwo Awoniyi's goal was enough to down the league runners-up, ensuring two of Everton, Leeds and Leicester will join Southampton in dropping down to the Championship.
Forest's manager was non-committal when asked in early May whether Henderson will extend his stay. "Hard to say. I have enjoyed working with him, we have all enjoyed Dean and the personality he is," Cooper said.
“All you see mainly is when he is in goal but there is more to him than that. He is a real good professional, he really cares, he has a fantastic mentality of winning and wanting to be the best, we have really enjoyed working with him and are grateful for what he has given to us and what he will continue to give to us.
“With Dean he is on loan from Manchester United but he really bought into the football club and the city, moving here and making it a permanent base for the loan showed he really wanted to be part of it on and off the pitch."
