Transfer Centre

Tom Heaton 'staying at Manchester United after Erik ten Hag talks'

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 07 August 2023

Heaton 'staying at Man United after Ten Hag talks'

Tom Heaton will remain at Manchester United during the 2023-24 campaign after successful talks with head coach Erik ten Hag, according to a report.

Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has reportedly managed to convince goalkeeper Tom Heaton to remain at the club for the 2023-24 campaign.

There has been a host of speculation surrounding the 37-year-old's future, with Luton Town and Everton both believed to be interested in signing him as their number one.

Andre Onana has been brought in this summer to be Man United's new number one stopper, with Heaton currently seen as the number two, as Dean Henderson is set to depart.

Heaton captained Man United in Sunday's pre-season friendly with Athletic Bilbao, and according to the Manchester Evening News, the goalkeeper will be staying at the club this summer.

The report claims that Ten Hag has managed to convince the Englishman, who has started five of Man United's seven pre-season matches, to remain at Old Trafford for the new season.

"[The captaincy was] a bit of a surprise I think," Heaton told MUTV after sporting the armband against Athletic. "You know, I'm a temporary custodian for the day, but it's still a proud day. It's always an honour to captain Manchester United and I certainly enjoyed that today.

Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag on July 19, 2023 © Reuters

"Pre-season has been good, I've really enjoyed it. I've had plenty of minutes, personally, which has been great. We've put in some really good performances.

"The manager wants to step on to the next level, which is exactly what this football club should be doing. We've gone to different parts of the world, seen all the support for the football club, which has been magnificent. But I think everyone's looking forward to starting the Premier League season and getting going next week.

"I think if I'm totally honest, I feel absolutely brilliant. It probably helps not having to do the same mileage that the outfielders do. But I don't manage training any different than anyone else.

"That's one of the things, for me: despite getting older, for me you still have to go through day in day out, do everything properly, and if you can't do that, then you might want to ask yourself the question, I think. At the minute, I feel fantastic.

"Yes, don't get me wrong, you have to do everything properly, but so does every single person on that pitch. 17, 18... the demands these days. I think it was 63 games last year. I think Bruno [Fernandes] played 62 of them. You have to have the elite-level recovery, elite-level attitude to everything. I certainly aim to do that."

Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag on April 2, 2023 © Reuters

Heaton also lavished praise on Onana, revealing that he is looking forward to both helping and battling the Cameroonian at Old Trafford.

"It's been great, actually. He's a real good lad, a real great character," Heaton added. "I've really enjoyed the style of his play. I think he'll suit this manager and how he wants to play really well.

"Hopefully I can learn a bit from him. I know I'm getting older, but I'm always trying to develop and evolve. Hopefully I can offer him something about Premier League football and the requirements and the different challenges.

"He and I have got on really well so far and, as I say, I'm looking forward to working with him, competing with him and then we'll see where it goes."

Heaton started his professional career at Man United, initially representing the club between 2005 and 2010, but he failed to make a first-team appearance before leaving on a permanent basis for Cardiff City.

The goalkeeper then returned to Old Trafford in the summer of 2021, but he has only featured on three occasions for the club over the last two seasons, with two of those outings coming last term.