West Ham United are reportedly the latest entrants in the race to sign Manchester United outcast, Dean Henderson, a target for Newcastle United.
According to The Sun, the race to sign Manchester United outcast Dean Henderson this summer is poised to heat up, with West Ham United becoming the latest club to show an interest in signing the talented goalkeeper, who has been on the radar of cash-rich Newcastle United in recent days.
The 25-year-old is understandably unhappy at Old Trafford after growing frustrated over a lack of playing time this season. He has made only three competitive appearances this term, with David de Gea indisputably the No. 1 goalkeeper for the Red Devils.
That disappointment has led to reports of a possible deadline-day loan exit from Old Trafford during the January transfer window, with Newcastle United interested in him. A move never materialised, though, and Henderson is now hopeful of a move away this summer in a bid to get regular minutes.
A Manchester United academy product, Henderson has been at the club since 2013 and has embarked on a number of development loan spells in the lower leagues with the likes of Shrewsbury Town, Grimsby and Stockport County. He was signed on-loan by Sheffield United in 2018 and became a staple at Bramall Lane as the team got promoted to the Premier League.
It was during a strong 2019/20 Premier League season that he truly blossomed as one of the best young goalkeepers in the division. He was recalled by Manchester United and had a brief spell as their first choice before slipping back down the pecking order due to a hip injury and sickness last summer.
With de Gea in the form of his life between the sticks, it is hard to envisage the Englishman dislodging the Spaniard as Manchester United’s No. 1 anytime soon. However, any permanent deal is expected to be difficult to orchestrate, with Manchester United slapping a £40 million asking price on their £120,000-per-week keeper, who penned a new five-year contract following his return from a two-year loan spell at Sheffield United.
To that end, the Red Devils are said to be interested in financing a loan move for the goalkeeper, and are willing to cover a sizeable portion of Henderson’s wages. Manchester United will have to pay half or more in order to facilitate a move and preserve the value of their prized asset.
West Ham have been quoted as a potential suitor, and the Hammers’ interest in Henderson is unsurprising. First-choice goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, 37, is likely to get only a one-year extension at the London Stadium when his deal expires come summer, while it is unclear whether PSG loanee Alphonse Areola will rejoin West Ham again after spending this season as an understudy to the Pole.
Newcastle, meanwhile, are already preparing a fresh bid for the Manchester United outcast, with Henderson being their priority target as they look for a new goalkeeper. At 25, the English international deserves better than to degrade his talent on the bench, and a move away from Old Trafford would be beneficial for him to get back into Gareth Southgate’s reckoning for the World Cup squad.