Manchester United could solve two squad headaches with one Tottenham transfer

Manchester United have two clear transfer priorities for the summer: signing a stable forward and a long-time midfielder. However, it’s not just revenue that can cause potential problems this summer, it’s expenses as well.

Dean Henderson has been a much-discussed topic in recent seasons, with the goalkeeper being loaned out to Nottingham Forest last summer without giving Erik ten Hag so much as a glimpse of what he could offer the Dutchman this season.

“To be honest, it’s probably been the toughest 12 months of my career,” Henderson told talkSPORT in early August. “It’s been tough, tough, and I’m so happy I left the other end.”

Henderson then detailed how he felt Manchester United failed to deliver on the promises they made to him during his time at the club.

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“The conversation I had after the Euro squad was, ‘You’re coming back here to be No. 1.’ I got COVID, came back so I should still have been number 1 but then unfortunately nobody followed what they told me.

He then went on to explain that he was loaned out so quickly because he didn’t want Erik ten Hag to see his qualities. “I didn’t really want the coach to come and see me in training because I knew he probably wants to keep me, so I tried to do everything before I went into the season,” he said.

“I told the hierarchy that I have to play football, I don’t want to be here playing second fiddle, it was planned. I was almost gone when the manager came through the door. I haven’t spoken to him since then.”

At the time, this outburst from Henderson was seen as the beginning of the end of his Manchester United career and it still feels like he will be pushed off the books next summer, despite having impressed at Forest so far.

However, the question then arises as to where he would go. Still young for a goalkeeper at 25, Henderson is held in very high esteem – ruling out the chance of a Premier League midfielder stepping in for him. However, following Hugo Lloris’ terrible blunder against Arsenal on Sunday afternoon, they could look to replace the Frenchman in the summer.

Tottenham themselves have a player who wants to leave in Harry Kane; and Erik ten Hag happens to be looking for a tall, strong, proven goalscorer who’s also technically sound with his feet, and Kane fits that profile perfectly.

Heading towards the peak of his career, the 29-year-old could be just what Ten Hag needs to fill a significant gap in the Manchester United squad and a swap deal between the two players could solve several issues for both clubs, it can just be the answer.

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According to Transfermarkt, Harry Kane is currently valued at around £80m considering his age, contract length, position and footballing ability. Dean Henderson, on the other hand, is only valued at around £20million, although United will no doubt price him higher.

For a transfer to work, United will almost certainly have to offer Tottenham a Henderson-plus-cash deal to land Kane, with the sum of money no doubt exceeding £50million.

It’s a big challenge – but it’s far from the craziest thing that’s happened in football.