Romano reveals NEW Man Utd transfer target

Robin Bairner

Updated: 21 Aug 2023 07:37 BST
3 min read

Fabrizio Romano's latest Man Utd transfer news — © ProShots

Manchester United are making preparations for the potential departure of Dean Henderson and have lined up Odysseas Vlachodimos of Benfica as a transfer target, Fabrizio Romano has revealed.

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Man Utd have found progress frustratingly slow in the transfer window this summer, with only Mason Mount, Andre Onana and Rasmus Hojlund signing.

A transfer for Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat, meanwhile, has stalled over a lack of funds, and while that could be resolved by the likes of Scott McTominay, Donny van de Beek or Harry Maguire being sold, a goalkeeper could rapidly become a priority for manager Erik ten Hag.

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Henderson is pushing to leave the club in order to get first-team opportunities, with Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest both chasing the England shot-stopper. After he spent last season on loan with Forest, it is unlikely to be a deal that Ten Hag resists significantly.

Henderson, though, was on the bench for Man Utd’s opening two Premier League matches of the season, with the need to give Onana support clear if he leaves.

Romano reports that in this case, the Red Devils are ready to look to 29-year-old Benfica goalkeeper Vlachodimos as an alternative.

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He reports on Twitter: “Manchester United now exploring move for Odysseas Vlachodimos who’s expected to leave Benfica.

“Vlachodimos, top of Man Utd list as new backup GK in case Dean Henderson joins Crystal Palace or Forest.”

Who is Odysseas Vlachodimos?

Vlachodimos, a youth international for Germany who switched allegiance to Greece for his senior career and has featured 33 times for his national team, has been with Benfica since 2018, when he joined for just €2.4 million from Panathinaikos. He has since made 225 appearances for the Portuguese giants, keeping 94 cleansheets.

After featuring in the 3-2 loss to Boavista on the opening weekend of the season, he was notably dropped from the squad that beat Estrela 2-0 at the weekend, fuelling suggestions that he will soon leave the club.