Nottingham Forest loanee Dean Henderson’s future beyond this season remains uncertain.
But the goalkeeper, along with the Reds, will be keeping tabs on the situation at parent club Manchester United, amid reports boss Erik ten Hag is “undecided” about David De Gea. What happens with the Spaniard will likely affect Henderson’s standing.
And the Daily Express claim De Gea could end up leaving Old Trafford on a free transfer at the end of this term, with question marks over where he fits into Ten Hag’s plans. It is said a feeling that Dea Gea “is struggling to play out from the back” does not tie in with his manager looking to implement his own style.
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Atletico Madrid are being linked with the shot-stopper, who is under contract until the summer - although there is a one-year extension option attached to that. But even if he does leave, that may not necessarily mean Henderson is guaranteed to step in as United’s new No.1, as Jan Oblak could reportedly swap places with De Gea, moving from La Liga to United.
After he put pen to paper on a season-long loan at Forest, Henderson hit out at his parent side for wasting a year of his career. He said: "To be honest, it has been the toughest 12 months of my career. It's been hard and I am so glad I got out the other side of it.
"The conversation I had with United after the Euros was that I was going back to Old Trafford to be number one. I got covid, and when I came back I should have still been number one.
"But nobody followed through with what they told me. It was frustrating as well because I turned down so many good loans last summer. It's criminal at my age, I wasted 12 months.”
On Ten Hag, he said: "I didn't speak to him, I didn't even want him to see me in training because I knew he would probably want to keep me. I tried to do it all before the season finished. I told the hierarchy I want to play football, I don't want to be here playing second fiddle. That was how it was panned out and it was sorted before he came through the door. I haven't spoken to him since."
The Express say United are “unlikely to penalise Henderson for his comments”. The 25-year-old is certainly making the most of his opportunity at the City Ground, putting in some impressive performances so far despite a tricky start for Steve Cooper’s men.
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