Manchester United enter talks to sign JACK BUTLAND on loan, as they turn to Crystal Palace’s No 2 to give competition to David De Gea after Martin Dubravka was recalled by Newcastle
Manchester United are in talks over a loan move for Crystal Palace goalkeeper Jack Butland.
The Old Trafford club are on the look out for a back-up keeper after Martin Dubravka returned to parent club Newcastle.
And Butland, who is No 2 to Vicente Guaita at Selhurst Park, has been identified as the man Erik ten Hag wants to provide competition for David De Gea and there is hope a deal can be reached.
Manchester United are in talks over a loan move for Crystal Palace goalkeeper Jack Butland
Dubravka had been on loan at Old Trafford from Newcastle during the first half of the season, but the Magpies recalled the Slovakian stopper last week.
He made two appearances in total for United – both in the Carabao Cup – and had regularly been Erik ten Hag’s No 2 stopper behind David de Gea.
And following his departure, they are now hoping to bring in Butland as a back-up option.
Butland, 29, was once one of the most highly-rated English goalkeepers – being called up to England’s Euro 2012 squad at the age of just 19 – while he also became the youngest goalkeeper to represent the England Men’s team in August 2012.
After making his breakthrough with Birmingham, he developed into one of the Premier League’s strongest goalkeepers while at Stoke and was a regular in England squads.
United are on the look out for a back-up keeper after Martin Dubravka returned to Newcastle
Erik ten Hag has identified Butland as the man to provide competition to David De Gea
However, his form dipped after their relegation to the Championship in 2018 and he moved on to Crystal Palace in 2020 where he has served as a back-up to Vicente Guaita ever since.
Following the summer arrival of Sam Johnstone he has faced further competition for gametime and has failed to make an appearance so far this season – although he has also missed large chunks of the campaign with a fractured finger.
United currently have Tom Heaton and Nathan Bishop as back-up options to De Gea, and Sportsmail previously reported they were planning to wait to make a decision over whether…