Eric ten Hag blocks Tom Heaton's move to Luton Town amid growing uncertainty from Manchester United goalkeeper

Tom Heaton wants to leave Old Trafford this summer. Credit: Ash Donelon/Getty Images

Erik ten Hag has blocked the move of second goalkeeper Tom Heaton to newly promoted Luton Town, where he would have been the club's number one as the effects of the club's goalkeeping crisis continue.

The United manager told Heaton, 37, that he would not be allowed to leave the club this summer despite the veteran asking the club to let him leave so he could become a Premier League regular. This follows United's decision to withdraw their contract offer for 32-year-old David De Gea, the club's long-term number 1, whose contract expired this week.

United's longtime No. 1 David De Gea has expired. Photo: Matthew Peters/Getty Images

Heaton was Luton manager Rob Edwards' first choice to give his team some Premier League experience next season. Former United academy boy Heaton returned to the club two years ago, signing a two-year contract with a one-year option. The club were not expected to renew Heaton's contract for the final and third year of the option, although the decision has now been made by United. season with Heaton as the first number. Another United first-team goalkeeper Dean Henderson, who spent last season on loan at Nottingham Forest, has undergone surgery for a hip injury sustained in January. While he hopes for a quick return, this is by no means guaranteed.

Heaton has had a long and varied career since he first left United in 2010. He played in all four divisions and in Belgium at the age of 10. different clubs. He has been Burnley's consistent No. 1 for six years.

Among other goals, United are looking for a new goalkeeper this summer. One candidate is Andre Onana, who played under Ten Hag at Ajax and joined Inter Milan a year ago. The Cameroon international is another one of those ex-Ajax players that Ten Hag trusts a lot.