Manchester United standing firm on future of outcast star

Manchester United remain in the market for a new goalkeeper following the departure of David de Gea last week. 

The Spaniard’s contract ran out at the end of June and he announced over the weekend that he would be leaving Old Trafford after more than a decade with the club.

The 32-year-old’s departure signals the end of an era at Old Trafford, but it appears that his exit could also have big implications for one of his former teammates.

According to Football Insider, United are now refusing to allow fellow goalkeeper Dean Henderson to leave the club until they have sourced a replacement for De Gea.

The report claims that the Red Devils will not allow the Englishman to depart the club until they have resolved their goalkeeping issues.

Henderson, 26, has been a part of the United setup for more than a decade and graduated into the first team in 2020, making his debut against Luton Town.

Henderson’s future at Manchester United remains extremely uncertain

He was a regular during the second half of the 2020/21 campaign, before an injury stunted his progression.

The England international was then sent on loan to Nottingham Forest last summer and made 20 appearances for the club before once again being sidelined due to injury.

Henderson, who has previously spent time on loan with Sheffield United, Grimsby Town and Shrewsbury Town, publicly vented his frustrations with United last year, claiming that he had ‘wasted’ a year of his life whilst sitting on the bench for the club during the 2021/22 campaign.

He is currently contracted to the Manchester outfit until the summer of 2025, but the player is likely to push for a move away from the club before the transfer window shuts.

Forest are said to be keen on the idea of re-signing Henderson this summer, but they have so far been unable to persuade United to part ways with the player amid their ongoing goalkeeping crisis.

In total, the Englishman has made 29 appearances for United across all competitions.

Aside from Henderson, United’s only other senior goalkeeper at present is veteran Tom Heaton, who has made just three appearances for the club.