Forest reportedly about to sign player Mourinho tipped to become 'phenomenal'

Nottingham Forest are reportedly closing in on the signing of Manchester United goalkeeper Dean Henderson.

According to the Daily Mail, the Reds have agreed a deal to land the 25-year-old on loan with a £20million option to buy.

Henderson has apparently agreed personal terms with the Premier League newcomers.

Now, it’s just a matter of finalising the paperwork and the Red Devils stopper will make the switch, added the report.

Forest have stepped up their search for a replacement for Brice Samba, who intends to leave the City Ground.

As per The Athletic, Samba has informed the club that he will not be signing a new contract.

The 28-year-old is reportedly interested in a move back to France’s Ligue 1 with Lens.

Henderson has played second fiddle to David de Gea at Old Trafford over the last two seasons.

He only made three appearances in 2021-22, which came in the Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup.

However, Henderson is proven at Premier League level.

He has made 49 top-flight appearances – 13 for Manchester United and 36 on loan at Sheffield United.

While at Bramall Lane, Henderson kept 13 sheets as the Blades finished ninth in 2019-20.

“He’s awesome”

Sander Berge lauded Henderson in an interview with Norwegian outlet VG in 2020.

“He’s insane,” he said of his now-former Blades teammate in an interview translated by Examiner Live.

“I’ve never been with such a good goalkeeper.

“One thing in matches, he is almost a defence alone at times, and you feel so secure with him.

“But people have to see him at training. It’s crazy. He saves balls from one yard.

“Sometimes I am completely speechless by how good he is. It’s like having two goalkeepers in goal with him.

“He’s awesome.”

Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho once tipped Henderson to become a “phenomenal” goalkeeper.

Discussing England’s goalkeepers at Euro 2020, Mourinho wrote in The Times: “I think they are good goalkeepers.

“I don’t think they are phenomenal goalkeepers or, in Dean Henderson’s case, not yet phenomenal.

“When I say not yet, I say he will be. I met him at [Manchester] United when he was a kid and I always remember him asking me to go on loan.

“He was saying when I come back, I come back to be the No 1. He told me that when he was the fourth choice.

“He’s a kid with an incredible self confidence and I think he is ready.”