Robbie Walls
Tottenham and Borussia Dortmund are leading the race to sign Manchester United goalkeeper Dean Henderson, the 23-year-old seemingly fed-up of playing second fiddle to David de Gea.
The England international spent the last two seasons out on-loan at Sheffield United, his performances helping the club to promotion to the top-flight as well as playing a key role in the Blades’ remarkable first season back in the Premier League.
With parent club Manchester United tipping the academy graduate as potentially the club’s future number one, he was brought into the first-team fold for the current campaign, yet has since only featured sporadically with teammate and long-serving United man De Gea still the first-choice pick.
This term has seen Henderson’s appearances largely restricted to domestic cup competitions, as well as a handful of games in the Champions League and Europa League, featuring just three times in the league thus far.
Although De Gea hasn’t been in the best form for the last 18 months or so, the highly-rated Henderson is finding it hard to dislodge the more experienced Spaniard, with rumours that one of the two men may have to leave the club this summer.
As per Sky Sports, the former Shrewsbury Town loanee is growing increasingly ‘frustrated’ with his current situation, with both Spurs and Dortmund leading the race for his signature should he wish to the leave the club at the end of the season.
Henderson only signed a new five-year deal, worth £120,000-a-week, back in August, yet his desperation for regular minutes, as well as the chance to become England number one, could see him push for a move.
The youngster seemingly has a big admirer in former United boss Jose Mourinho at Spurs, the Portuguese keeping tabs on the player as the club look for a long-term replacement for veteran stopper Hugo Lloris.
The World Cup winner has been the undisputed number one at the club since his arrival from Lyon in 2012, yet has made some high-profile recent errors and has only a year left on his current deal.
One potential destination for the 34-year-old could be the Parc des Princes, with former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino reportedly keen for a reunion with his former captain at Paris Saint-Germain.
While the United man is one potential successor to the Frenchman, the Mail are reporting that impressive Burnley ‘keeper Nick Pope is also being targeted by the North London club.
As for Henderson, he is seemingly not adverse to trying his hand abroad, with Dortmund another side interested in making a move for him.
The Bundesliga side are in search of a top ‘stopper due to Roman Burki’s inconsistent form in recent years and would be able to tempt the United man with the prospect of Champions League football.
What is clear is that having another season of both Henderson and De Gea battling it out for a starting berth at Old Trafford is not in anyone’s best interests, with either of the two likely to leave.
While the Englishman is very well thought of at the club, De Gea still has two year left on his current deal and may be much more difficult to move on this summer.
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