Manchester United are set to make a move for Watford goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann once Dean Henderson completes his loan move to Nottingham Forest.
Henderson has been keen to pursue more first-team opportunities after appearing in just three cup games last season and Forest have been in the market for a goalkeeper with their No. 1 Brice Samba set to leave.
The deal to take Henderson to the City Ground is close to being completed but it will be a straight loan with no option to buy included. It is understood United never considered a deal that would mean Henderson could have left on a permanent transfer in 12 months' time.
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Henderson was keen on a move to Newcastle last month, but with Burnley's Nick Pope now close to a move to Tyneside the United goalkeeper will make the switch to Forest, who won promotion via the Championship play-offs last month.
Henderson split goalkeeping duties with David de Gea in the 2020/21 season and was initially slated to start last season as United's first-choice goalkeeper. But he picked up Covid-19 last summer and struggled to shake off the after-effects, by which stage De Gea had found form and kept his place throughout the season.
When Henderson makes his temporary switch United are expected to firm up their interest in Bachmann. The 27-year-old made 12 appearances in the Premier League last season as he fought with Ben Foster for the role of Hornets No. 1.
With Watford relegated to the Championship, the Austrian international would welcome a return to the Premier League and the Manchester Evening News first reported the club's interest in signing the player at the end of May.
If Bachmann does join United he will compete with Tom Heaton for the role of backup goalkeeper, with appearances for a No. 2 likely in the Europa League next term.
Heaton returned to the club last summer and was expected to operate as a backup, but with De Gea and Henderson staying he made just one appearance, coming on as a substitute in the Champions League group stage game with Young Boys.
If Henderson completes his move to Forest it is almost certain to mean James Garner cannot return to the City Ground after his successful loan spell under Steve Cooper last season.
Premier League rules state clubs can only have one player on loan from another member club at the same time. It was thought Forest might try to exploit a loophole that would allow them to take two players on loan if the Henderson deal included an option to buy, but that is now not happening.
Erik ten Hag will run the rule over Garner in pre-season before deciding if the 21-year-old midfielder will form part of his squad next season, or if a loan move to another Premier League club is preferred.
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