MANCHESTER UNITED are set to offer Tom Heaton a shock new contract, according to reports.
The veteran goalkeeper, 39, was expected to be let go as a free agent and possibly even hang up his gloves when his £45,000-a-week Old Trafford contract expires this summer.
There was an understanding that he may stick around at Carrington, though, in a coaching role should he retire.
However, the Daily Mail claim Heaton and United could make a surprise U-turn by extending his stay.
It is claimed the three-cap England goalkeeper has entered negotiations over a new deal.
An additional 12-month contract would see Heaton stay on at United – again as the third-choice stopper.
An overhaul of the goalkeeping department at Old Trafford remains on the cards.
Current No2 Altay Bayindir looks on course to leave to play regular first-team football next season.
And uncertainty remains over the future of current No1 Andre Onana, who could move to Saudi Arabia.
So Ruben Amorim may opt to keep Heaton around to provide some stability among the goalkeepers.
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And that would see Heaton remain in the Premier League into his 40s.
The ex-Burnley stopper turns 40 next April.
Born in Chester, he joined United as a trainee in 2002 but left in 2010 after six loans and no Red Devils first-team appearances.
But he returned in 2021 after two years with Aston Villa.
Heaton has made just three appearances in his four seasons, though.
He came off the bench in a 1-1 draw in the Champions League with Young Boys in December 2021 and then featured in two EFL Cup victories – over Charlton and Nottingham Forest – on the way to United lifting the trophy.
However, the 2-0 second-leg semi-final victory over Forst in February 2023 was his most-recent game for the Red Devils.
This term, Heaton has been named on the bench 16 times – including nine in the Europa League and five in the Premier League.
United are being linked with various goalkeepers as possible rivals or even replacements for Onana next season.
Espanyol stopper Joan Garcia, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Kaua Santos and Lille’s Lucas Chevalier are all thought to be under consideration.
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