Dean Henderson returned to Manchester United after his loan deal ended with Sheffield United in an attempt to win the goalkeeper spot from De Gea. The position remained undecided going into the season, but after a poor performance in his first Champions League match, it became clear that De Gea would stay United’s number one. Now it looks unlikely for Henderson to get many more chances this season. Due to the lack of game-time at United, Dean will most likely push for a January loan move to prove his worth before the Euros.
Performances This Season
Despite being on the bench for every United match, Dean Henderson appeared in only three games so far this season. Those matches being two EFL cup wins and UCL a loss against Başakşehir. Henderson looked strong in both wins against Brighton and Luton Town. However, against an unfamiliar Başakşehir side, Henderson ran into issues.
The pressure of playing in the Champions League simply got to Dean. He appeared unusually uncomfortable between the sticks. The good news is that Henderson is still young and has an extremely bright future in front of him. However, he might not be ready for the big time at United just yet. A succesful loan with European fixutres could calm Dean’s nerves in bigger matches and allow him to return more confident and ready to fight for the United and England job.
Celtic
The current Scottish champions want Dean Henderson. Celtic are searching for their tenth straight title this year (something no Scottish club has been able to do) but have struggled early on. In short, Celtic need a strong leader in between the sticks and Henderson could be the man for the job.
The move to Scotland would be a loan with the deal ranging from a short-term (six-month) loan to a long-term (two-year) loan. The main potential issue will be the buy-on clause. Celtic will want a provision in the deal that they could buy Henderson if they like him, but doubts arise over if United would include it. If Henderson could lead Celtic to a title this season, then he may even secure a spot for Euro 2020 for England. With that as motivation, the move to Glasgow looks likely for him.
Other Clubs
If the move to Celtic were to fall through, then there are still some other clubs that would want his services. Mainly, SL Benfica and Sheffield United. The Portuguese side has been rumored to like Henderson, and Sheffield wants to recreate their magical season from last year.
Benfica are an excellent option because they are currently playing in the Europa League. The extra European competition would greatly benefit Henderson’s development. However, questions remain over the quality of league football in Portugal.
The other option of Sheffield United feels like a backup plan. Henderson spent a lot of quality time with the Blades, but he is fit for greener pastures. Sheffield currently sit at the bottom of the Premier League and Henderson needs more quality to play with. A move back to the Blades is more of a last resort than an opportunity.
Glory Glory Man United.
Written by CJ Szaz.
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