Manchester United are close to agreeing a loan move for current No.2 goalkeeper Dean Henderson to spend the season at Nottingham Forest, according to latest reports.
Despite seemingly breaking into the first team and displacing David de Gea’s No.1 spot under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2020, Dean Henderson fell back to his usual position as back-up ‘keeper last season.
Due to a mix of injuries and suffering from long-covid, Henderson had to pull out of England’s EURO 2020 squad last summer and never quite rediscovered his form in the resulting season, and now it looks like new manager Erik ten Hag sees no future for the United academy graduate in his plans.
Latest reports suggest that Nottingham Forest are close to agreeing a deal with Manchester United for the goalkeeper to take him on loan for the season. The deal is a loan with an option to buy, with the option price believed to be around £20 million.
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The fact that United are happy to include an option to buy all but seals the notion that Henderson’s future lies away from Manchester United.
The potential deal was first reported by Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, and was quickly picked up by other major outlets, who all have information that point towards Henderson spending the season in the newly promoted East Midlands club.
As Henderson is on significantly higher wages than the majority of the Nottingham Forest side, Sky Sports’ report claims that Manchester United will pay a portion of Henderson’s wages while he is on loan at Forest, but should the Nottingham club activate the option to buy, they would have to pay his new wages in full.
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Although it has never been confirmed, there has often been speculation among fans that Henderson is one of the players who leaked information such as line-ups and dressing-room drama to the press.
Nottingham Forest are targeting Dean Henderson to become their new No.1 as their current goalkeeper Brice Samba, who shone in their play-off wins against Sheffield United and Huddersfield, is reportedly refusing to sign a new contract amid interest from French club Nantes.
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After saving three penalties in emphatic fashion in their play-off semi-final penalty shootout, Samba is certainly a huge part of Nottingham Forest’s system, and manager Steve Cooper will hope that Henderson can replicate the brilliant performances Samba put in with the club.
Henderson is no stranger to performing well in a newly promoted side. After spending the season on loan at Sheffield United in the 18/19 Championship season and helping them gain Premier League promotion, Manchester United then loaned him back to the Northern club for a further season, where he was a big part of the reason that Sheffield United finished 9th in the league in the 2019/20 table.
At the time, Henderson was viewed as the future No.1 goalkeeper for Manchester United; but now, it seems like dream will never be realised.
Topics: Manchester United, Manchester United Transfer News & Rumours, Dean Henderson, David De Gea, Nottingham Forest, Football, Transfers
Dylan Penketh