Man Utd schedule medical for first January signing with deal set to be completed soon

Manchester United have scheduled a medical for goalkeeper Jack Butland after agreeing a deal to sign him on loan from Crystal Palace, according to reports.

Erik ten Hag's side had been on the lookout for a new shot-stopper following Newcastle's decision to recall on-loan goalkeeper Martin Dubravka at the beginning of the January transfer window.

It was claimed that Ten Hag wanted a goalkeeper with international experience as backup to David de Gea, with Butland - who has nine caps for England - seen as an ideal option.

The 29-year-old has been at Palace since the summer of 2020, when he was signed by Roy Hodgson to compete with Vicente Guaita and Wayne Hennessey.

Butland made 15 appearances in all competitions last season following injury to Guaita.

This season, however, he is yet to play a competitive game after suffering 'a few broken fingers' against United in a pre-season friendly, an injury he recovered from in November.

He has not been a consistent first-choice goalkeeper in the top flight since Stoke's 2018 relegation, and suffered a broken ankle in March 2016 during an England game which ruled him out for a year.

Man Utd 'schedule medical' for Butland

According to Spanish outlet AS, the Red Devils have quickly agreed a deal with Palace to sign Butland after initial links emerged on Wednesday.

He will undergo a medical on Thursday, with the England shot-stopper set to sign a loan deal with United until the end of the season.

Pending the successful completion of the medical, Butland will join a goalkeeping department that contains De Gea, Tom Heaton and Nathan Bishop.

And despite not playing regular top division football in recent years, the former Stoke man has experience and pedigree in the Premier League, and will hope to challenge De Gea for the number one spot for a club he previously admitted he would love to join.