Man Utd considering Dean Henderson as number one to start the season

Manchester United's forgotten man Dean Henderson is being lined up to start next season as the club's first choice goalkeeper.

It wouldn't be a summer without a long drawn out saga or two involving United and the transfer window, and the goalkeeper situation is turning that way.

I've been on holiday for the past week and I rather expected that by now the Premier League club would have sorted out who their number one for next season would be, how stupid of me I know.

In that time the only thing they've managed to do is work out who it won't be, with David de Gea finally confirming his departure from Old Trafford, after 12 incredible years.

With the team's four time Player of the Season now gone Tom Heaton stepped into the starting line up for Erik ten Hag's side's first game of pre-season, with Mason Mount making his first appearance in a United shirt against Leeds United.

It's unlikely that Heaton will be the number one come August 14th, when the team get their campaign underway against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Ten Hag is still hoping to get Andre Onana from Inter Milan with his style fitting in perfectly to the manager's plans but so far they haven't reached an agreement.

And according to the Daily Mail, Henderson is being considered as the man who could wear the gloves against Wolves at home.

If that did happen it would be the 26-year-old's first appearance for the club since he played in the FA Cup loss to Middlesbrough in February 2022.

Henderson at United's training complex. Image: Manchester United

Henderson has previously had a stint as United's number one in the second half on the 2020/21 season, when De Gea was unavailable.

When the Spaniard did return to the team it was the Englishman who Ole Gunnar Solskjaer kept in the team until the end of the season.

However at the start of the next campaign Henderson was out himself and De Gea was able to regain the number one spot, leading to his understudy playing just three games.

Last season the Cumbrian went on loan to Nottingham Forest and played regularly until an injury meant the club needed to replace him and Keylor Navas came in and kept the place until the season had finished.

Ten Hag didn't take Henderson to Norway for the game with Leeds but was asked about the keeper being an option, to which the Dutchman said: "Yes, of course. I followed him through the whole season. Goalkeeper is a key position but I am happy with the players we have now."

United fans may well need their own holiday by the time this saga plays out...

Topics: Football, Premier League, Manchester United, Manchester United Transfer News & Rumours, Transfers, Inter Milan, Serie A, Dean Henderson

Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a journalist for SPORTbible with over eight years of experience. Passionate about all sports, he mainly covers football and F1 - Daniel Ricciardo once spent an entire interview referring to him as 'Ryan Gosling,' still his proudest moment.

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