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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Tyrone Marshall

Manchester United should set £100million transfer target during summer window

In a perfect world, there might be a temptation at Manchester United to bring Dean Henderson back into the fold this summer and allow him to lay down another challenge to David de Gea.

It is Henderson who has come closer than anyone to ending De Gea's grip on the gloves at United, but his chances of making that place his own were ruined by Covid. Having been promised the chance to start the 2021/22 season as first choice, he ended up stuck behind De Gea when his form picked up.

There are question marks once again over the Spaniard now, but it seems Henderson's days as a potential replacement are numbered. He is 26 and at a point where he isn't going to risk another season sitting on the bench.

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For United, he is also a very sellable asset in a summer when they need to bring in funds to boost the transfer budget. As an English goalkeeper who has proven himself in the Premier League, he is an attractive proposition.

A move to Nottingham Forest makes sense after his loan spell this season. Staff at the City Ground are also looped in on the extent of his thigh injury, which might have been a stumbling block to a transfer elsewhere. If United can cash in for £30million and boost Erik ten Hag's transfer kitty in the process then it makes sense.

That is the kind of approach United, led by football director John Murtough, will need to take to the transfer window this summer. There are some players they would rather leave ahead of others, but each deal must be assessed on its merits and the finances involved.

Eric Bailly and Alex Telles should be certain to depart this summer, but neither is likely to attract much of a transfer fee after disappointing loan spells at Marseille and Sevilla and Brandon Williams hasn't played enough football to maintain his value.

Instead, it might be prudent to look at players who could attract a reasonable fee, even if they leave a gap in the squad. Harry Maguire should be seeking to move on anyway, given he is now fourth-choice centre-back, but his status as an England regular should still make him attractive to almost half the Premier League clubs.

Scott McTominay is another who United could cash in on. Selling the academy graduate might mean accelerating plans to sign a younger midfielder, but if Newcastle firm up their interest then this summer might be the most opportune moment to cut a deal.

Young wingers Facundo Pellistri and Anthony Elanga should also be sold. Neither featured much in the second half of the season and with Amad returning from a loan at Sunderland and a striker likely to sign, their chances of playing won't improve. Both have shown glimpses that suggest they could attract a fee.

If United could find a way to raise around £100m in sales then that would be a major boost for Ten Hag. If a striker takes the majority of his budget out, those extra funds could go towards a new goalkeeper and a new midfielder. It's going to be a window when United need to be adaptable to incomings and outgoings.

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