Manchester United’s 21-year-old goalkeeper Dean Henderson is at the centre of a three-way battle between English clubs including newly promoted Fulham.
Manchester United shot-stopper Dean Henderson is being chased by as many as three English clubs, with top-flight side Fulham contesting EFL Championship clubs Stoke City and Bristol City for his signing, according to a report from The Sun.
The 21-year-old goalkeeper has been on the books of the 20-time English champions since 2011 having joined from Carlisle United, but is yet to make his first-team debut. He has made it to the bench on a couple of occasions though, both coming in FA Cup, once in 2016 and once more in 2017.
Henderson has had loan spells away from Manchester United with Stockport County and Grimsby Town while he spent the entire last season with Shrewsbury Town in the EFL League One. During the 2017-18 season, the 21-year-old went on to make 48 appearances for the Shrews, managing 19 clean sheets helping them to a third-place finish in the third tier of English football, although they missed out on promotion to the Championship.
Henderson’s performances with the third division club haven’t gone unnoticed though as newly promoted Premier League outfit, Fulham, have made him a transfer target for the summer. With their current second-choice goalkeeper David Button close to completing a switch to Brighton & Hove Albion, the Cottagers have identified the Manchester United custodian as the right man to replace the 29-year old.
However, they will have to face stiff competition for his signature from Championship clubs Stoke City and Bristol City.
Stoke, who were relegated to the second division this past campaign, are preparing for the inevitable transfer of England goalkeeper Jack Butland, who has been linked with a move to Chelsea as well as UEFA Champions League finalists Liverpool. And newly appointed manager Gary Rowett has narrowed down on Henderson as the man to replace Butland should he depart.
Bristol City, too, are keen on the 21-year old England youth international with the Robins understood to be in the market for a new stopper after Luke Steele was released and with question marks over Frank Fielding’s future. Manager Lee Johnson has personally scouted the goalkeeper a number of times during his time with Shrewsbury over the course of the last season.
With David De Gea, Sergio Romero and Joel Pereira occupying the top three positions in the pecking order at Manchester United, Henderson’s path to the first-team at Old Trafford is anything but easy. With his contract set to expire at the end of this month, the Red Devils are understood to have offered him a new deal, but it remains to be seen if the 21-year-old signs on the dotted line.
Henderson might not be the only young and promising goalkeeper who is likely to leave Manchester United this summer, with long-time servant of the club Sam Johnstone, too, reportedly heading for the exit doors, with the likes of Cardiff City and Aston Villa waiting to snap him up.
