Dean Henderson is still at Man Utd as Nottingham Forest attempt to re-sign him on a permanent basis.
Manchester United are receptive to negotiating a loan deal with an obligation to buy Dean Henderson with Nottingham Forest as long as they bank the fee by the January transfer window.
United rejected Forest’s initial proposal to loan Henderson, 26, and sign him once he had played a certain number of games as they want to sell the goalkeeper.
Forest are cautious about re-signing Henderson, who spent last season on loan at the City Ground, as he has not played since January due to a thigh injury. Henderson had surgery in May but is training with United on their pre-season tour of the United States and is nearing a return to match fitness.
United believe sales in the summer and winter transfer windows would ensure they comply with the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules, so they want payment for Henderson to be triggered by the new year, at the latest.
Forest have suggested Henderson play 30 games for a fee to be triggered but that would be too late for United. Clubs have 38 Premier League fixtures in a season and Henderson would possibly be rested in League Cup and FA Cup ties.
Henderson has been convinced all summer he would rejoin Forest after their owner, Evangelos Marinakis, informed Henderson of their intention to sign him.
United have discussed a possible deal for Japanese goalkeeper Zion Suzuki and Henderson is regarded as a sellable asset given his Premier League experience and status as an England international.
“We have a group of keepers and, as everyone else, you have to fight for your position,” United manager Erik ten Hag said after the defeat to Real Madrid on Wednesday evening. “I think that’s normal when you’re at United.
“And he (Henderson) is a good goalie, he has to fight and we have to see when he can return to team training.”
