Manchester United have an untenable situation with the goalkeeper, with David de Gea and Dean Henderson each commanding a starting salary, neither satisfied with being anything other than “number one” and no way for the club to sufficiently compromise or satisfy both at once.
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Henderson was persuaded to return to his parent club at the end of last season after two hugely important loan spells at Sheffield United, during which he helped the Blades into the Premier League and played for the England squad.
Henderson has joined England’s squad | Pool / Getty Images
But the 23-year-old home-grown star has so far only saved sparingly, largely sent to cup competitions. He also had to settle for the bench in the Champions League, although he will probably now be the regular starter as long as United remain in the Europa League.
Part of the deal that saw Henderson stay was a bumpy new contract worth somewhere in the region between £ 100,000 and £ 120,000 a week. That salary is dwarfed by De Gea’s income in the region of 375,000 pounds, the highest paid goalkeeper in the world, but is comparable to a starter’s salary package in Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham.
But apart from being a huge expense that is unusual compared to the rest of the Premier League, United can not hope to keep Henderson happy with his current role. He is desperate to be a starter, and there seems to be no realistic chance that the club will leave De Gea to allow it.
Despite his still somewhat inconsistent form, De Gea is one of the best goalkeepers in the world, and it would be near impossible to move him further due to his salary. It would also be a big bet to throw Henderson in the deep end when he is still most unproven.
David de Gea is still the usual starter at Man Utd | Pool / Getty Images
It is important not to forget that Henderson, at this early stage of his career, has only had one season of top football as a start. It was in a team where he was expected to be busy. But it is a completely different skill to play for a team that usually dominates the possession and still be able to maintain concentration during decisive moments, while at the same time being largely a spectator in games.
Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer recently admitted that Henderson is ‘not the most patient guy’ and it may be that United have no choice but to let him go before next season.
The choice they and Henderson must make is where and how it will happen best for everyone.
Henderson must leave Man Utd for regular chances Laurence Griffiths / Getty Images
The options are permanent sale, permanent sale with repurchase clause or other loan.
United could get the most money for Henderson with a straight sale, perhaps worth up to £ 30 million from the right buyer. The downside there is to cut all ties with the player, who may still be England’s top in the next few years.
De Gea, now 30, will not stay forever and his future will be discussed again in the next few years – his current contract runs until 2023 but has an extension clause until 2024. If United chose the moment to let the Spaniards go, it may be the perfect time for Henderson to step in as a natural replacement if he has had time to develop as a starter at a good level elsewhere.
This suggests that a sale with a repurchase clause or a simpler long-term loan would be a better option for United. Henderson himself is considered keen to do so at the club he first joined at the age of 14 and keeping in touch may be his preferred option.
Henderson is not unhappy at Man Utd but wants to play more | Jonathan Moscrop / Getty Images
The introduction of a repurchase clause could limit the fee United could sell Henderson for because they and not the buying club would ultimately retain control over his future. It may also limit the number of sites willing to make an offer to him on such terms.
The positive side is that a repurchase clause gives the player a more permanent home to take root before struggling to return, rather than a more temporary character. The downside is that United still have to spend money to get him back, with which repurchase clause will obviously be higher than the original sales fee.
Perhaps the best solution in that regard would be a long-term loan, which is intended to be more than one season but without having to spend money to repurchase the player. Again, the ultimate goal of bringing him back to Manchester may be disgusting to some suitors who want to plan long-term. But if Henderson can get two years of regular play at a club in contention for league titles and play in Europe, it would not prepare him to possibly take over from De Gea 2023.
Man Utd would be reluctant to strengthen a direct rival | Laurence Griffiths / Getty Images
The other side of the coin is which club he could join.
Tottenham have been credited with interest in recent days as they begin to consider a future without long-serving captain Hugo Lloris. Chelsea have also been linked in the past, but strengthening a direct rival is not understandably something United would want.
The problem is that sending Henderson to other Premier League sides working at a slightly lower level, those in the midfield, may not be enough to prepare him to become “number one” at United.
A better solution would be to move abroad. In that respect, Borussia Dortmund has been linked. The Bundesliga team has already proved to be a good home for English players after signing and developing both Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham.
All other top teams in Germany or France would have a similar impact. Serie A and La Liga can also be alternatives, but no matter which club it is in any country, it is important and every suitor would need to be considered with individual merit at that time.
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