Manchester United have reportedly placed a £40 million price tag on wantaway goalkeeper Dean Henderson, who is a transfer target for cash-rich Newcastle.
According to a report by the Daily Star, Newcastle United will have to fork out £40 million if they are to sign Manchester United’s in-demand shot-stopper Dean Henderson in the summer.
The 25-year-old came through the Red Devils’ youth ranks and made his first-team debut in the 2020/21 season. He got valuable first-team experience through a series of loan spells with Stockport County, Grimsby Town, and Shrewsbury Town before joining Sheffield United for two years.
It was during his time at Bramall Lane that the shot-stopper began to show his potential. In 2018/19, he played 46 Championship matches before playing an entire Premier League campaign the following season. In 2019/20, he was one of the best keepers in the entirety of the English top-flight, finishing third-best in clean sheets (13), save percentage (75.2 %) and average goals against per game (0.92).
Henderson appeared to have ousted David de Gea in the battle for the No. 1 spot at Old Trafford in the second half of the 2020/21 season. His form earned him a place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Euro 2020 as a backup goalkeeper to Jordan Pickford. But an untimely hip injury derailed his career trajectory.
Not only was Henderson forced to withdraw from England’s Euro 2020 squad, but de Gea’s return to form meant the goalkeeper has found opportunities few and far between at Old Trafford. He has only made three senior appearances for the club in 2021/22, compared to 26 the previous season.
Understandably, Henderson is likely to seek a move away in search of regular first-team football, particularly with his place in Southgate’s World Cup squad hanging in the balance. Newcastle United, for one, are expected to return with a bid for the Manchester United goalkeeper this summer after failing in their pursuit in January.
The Daily Star claims that Manchester United will not let go of their academy product cheaply, insisting that any potential suitor has to pay a whopping £40 million to secure Henderson’s services. An outlay of around that quoted figure would make him the most expensive English goalkeeper, surpassing the £30 million spent by Arsenal on Aaron Ramsdale last summer.
In that case, the Saudi-backed Tyneside club will hold the strongest chance of matching the requested amount and the player’s £100,000 per week wage packet. The heavy costs involved in the transfer will make it difficult for most of Toon’s rivals to compete for his signature.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe is likely to hunt for a new goalkeeper after not being completely convinced of 33-year-old Martin Dubravka as his first-choice option. Henderson, meanwhile, is a modern goalkeeper who excels at sweeping the ball away and commanding his box.
Furthermore, the Manchester United ace is eight years younger than Dubravka and has the potential to lead the exciting new era at St James’ Park for many years to come. That said, there is also an unlikely scenario that Henderson stays put at Manchester United this summer, with incoming manager Erik ten Hag said to be a big admirer of his talents.
