NEWCASTLE UNITED are confident of sealing a deal for Manchester United goalkeeper Dean Henderson this summer – and are prepared to allow both Karl Darlow and Freddie Woodman to leave St James’ Park.
Eddie Howe is keen to overhaul his goalkeeping ranks, with Henderson firmly established as his number one target.
Newcastle looked at signing the 25-year-old in January, only to shift their priorities elsewhere and eventually opt against recruiting a shot-stopper in the mid-season transfer window.
That will change this summer, with Newcastle’s recruitment team set to make a formal approach for Henderson in the next few weeks after receiving strong indications that the Cumbrian is keen to leave Old Trafford in order to further his career.
Henderson made just three senior starts in the whole of last season – none of which were in the Premier League – and with Erik ten Hag having thrown his backing behind David de Gea, the England international has accepted it is time to sever his links with Manchester United, even though he still has three more years of his current contract remaining.
Newcastle are set to offer around £15m, and are hopeful a deal can be agreed relatively swiftly once the transfer window formally reopens.
Henderson’s arrival would place a question mark over Martin Dubravka’s position, but at this stage, Newcastle do not want to lose the Slovakian, who ended last season as the club’s number one.
Instead, they are willing to listen to offers for both Darlow and Woodman, neither of whom have been able to establish themselves as regular starters at St James’ Park.
Darlow has been linked with a possible move to Manchester United to become De Gea’s understudy, although the 31-year-old is also the subject of strong interest from both Middlesbrough and West Brom.
Boro have inquired about both Darlow and Leicester City’s Daniel Iversen, with Chris Wilder determined to recruit a new goalkeeper this summer.
Woodman spent the second half of last season on loan at Bournemouth, and while he was unable to dislodge Mark Travers from the Cherries’ starting line-up, he enjoyed his time at the Vitality Stadium and might yet make a permanent move to the south coast.
Scott Parker is understood to have been impressed with Woodman’s impact as part of the first-team squad, and is ready to make a move for the former England Under-21 international.
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