Manchester United have reportedly turned down Watford’s late approach to sign Dean Henderson on loan on transfer deadline day.
According to Manchester Evening News, Manchester United have blocked a last-ditch attempt from Watford to secure the loan signing of Dean Henderson on the January transfer deadline day.
Henderson, a Manchester United youth academy product, got his first taste of senior football for the club last term, after two highly impressive seasons away on loan at Sheffield United. The 24-year-old managed to dislodge David de Gea as the first-choice goalkeeper for the Red Devils in the second half of the 2020/21 campaign.
However, injury and Covid-19 at the onset of the new season meant that de Gea was given a chance to reclaim his lost throne, which he has done in an emphatic fashion. It has relegated Henderson to the role of the backup shot-stopper at Old Trafford, with the Englishman playing just two matches across all competitions this term.
Having grown frustrated with his situation, Henderson pushed for an exit from Manchester United in the January window. There had been reports of a possible move to Newcastle United, while several other clubs from England and Europe were keen on signing the custodian in the winter.
As per the report, Watford also entered the fray for his transfer late on transfer deadline day. The Hornets are believed to have asked Manchester United about the possibility of signing Henderson on loan for the rest of the season, as new manager Roy Hodgson seeks to improve his goalkeeping options.
However, the Premier League strugglers have been met with swift rejection from the 20-time English champions. Manchester United have no intention of offloading Henderson this late in the transfer window as it would leave them with no time to bring in a replacement, even though they have an able third-choice in Tom Heaton.
Nonetheless, Henderson is set to stay put at Old Trafford for the remainder of the season. With the World Cup at the end of the year, the 24-year-old will hope to get some minutes under his belt over the course of the next few months. If the situation changes, it will not come as a surprise if the goalkeeper pushes for an exit in the summer again.
Henderson is not the only player to have a deadline day exit blocked by Manchester United. Jesse Lingard also endured the same fate amid strong interest from West Ham and Newcastle United.
