Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has confirmed that Crystal Palace goalkeeper Jack Butland is close to joining the club on loan for the remainder of the campaign.
The 29-year-old is believed to have undergone a medical with the 20-time English champions on Thursday ahead of signing a deal until the end of the season.
Martin Dubravka had been on loan at Old Trafford, but Newcastle United recalled the 33-year-old earlier this month, putting Man United in the market for a stopper to provide competition for Tom Heaton and David de Gea.
Ten Hag has said that the need to have "three experienced goalkeepers" is the reason why the Red Devils have moved quickly to agree a loan deal for Butland.
"Martin was recalled and now to set up we need three experienced goalkeepers," Ten Hag told reporters during his press conference ahead of Friday's FA Cup third-round contest with Everton.
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"We have some young ones and they do well but we have so many games so you need three good goalies in training. But also when problems are coming you need experience in goal to get your goals, what you are aiming for.
"What is he (Butland) bringing? I'm really happy with David, it's quite clear, he's our number one, he's a really good performer but what I say is there's always something that can happen with David as well and you have to be prepared for that so you don't have one experienced goalkeeper and you are unlucky.
"Last year, I had a situation with Ajax we had three goalies injured and you don't want to come a situation that, when you come to the end of the season, you play for trophies and you have to put in a young keeper, you can't expect it from the young goalkeeper but you also kill your season. That's what you have to be prepared for."
Butland only has a contract with Palace until the end of June, meaning that, as it stands, he will be available on a free transfer this summer.
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The 29-year-old is yet to make an appearance for Palace this season, but he has played 87 times in the Premier League during his career, with 77 of those coming during his time at Stoke City.
Butland has also been capped on nine occasions by England, with his last outing for the Three Lions coming against Switzerland in a friendly towards the end of 2018.
De Gea will remain Man United's number one goalkeeper, with Butland battling Heaton to be the number two in the second half of the campaign.
Heaton will be on the bench for the team's FA Cup contest with Everton on Friday, but Butland could be involved in next week's EFL Cup quarter-final with Charlton Athletic.
Matt Law
