Manchester United identify Andre Onana’s backup should Henderson leave

Manchester United target Odysseas Vlachodimos (Photo by Pedro Loureiro/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
Manchester United target Odysseas Vlachodimos (Photo by Pedro Loureiro/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

Manchester United could be set to part ways with Dean Henderson this transfer window. Erik ten Hag will need to find a backup keeper for Andre Onana should Henderson leave. The club did previously look at Japanese youth international Zion Suzuki, but the player has now moved to Belgium. With Champions League football on the menu for the Red Devils, the club must try to bring in a keeper with the ability to start some big games should something happen to Onana.

Fabrizio Romano is reporting that Benficaa goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos is atop Manchester United’s shortlist for keepers to sign in case Dean Henderson departs. Benfica are expected to sell the Greek keeper as they have signed Anatoliy Trubin from Shakhtar Donetsk. Vlachodimos has been with Benfica since 2018 and, barring injury, has been the first choice for the Portuguese giants during his tenure.

Vlachodimos is only 29 years old and could be a shrewd pickup by Manchester United. Born and raised in Germany, Vlachodimos played for Germany at the youth level until switching to Greece at the senior level in 2018. The keeper came through Stuttgart’s academy but left for Panathinaikos before he could become a regular for the Bundesliga side. After just a couple of seasons in Greece, Vlachodimos made his way over to Benfica, where to date, he has played 225 matches for the club.

As a part of his Vlachodimos reporting, Fabrizio Romano has stated that Nottingham Forest is still in the race to sign Manchester United’s Dean Henderson, but now Crystal Palace is also sniffing around. The London-based club is likely to add a new keeper after relations between the team and Vicente Guaita have broken down. The Spanish veteran keeper wants out of Selhurst Park and that could trigger Crystal Palace to make a move for Henderson.