Dean could jet off to join Ajax in loan move
UNITED goalkeeper Dean Henderson is in talks about a potential loan move to Ajax in the January transfer window.
Henderson, 24, has only played once all season and is open to embarking on a six-month or 18-month loan in the New Year.
The Ajax chief executive and former United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar is a confirmed admirer of Henderson and the Dutch champions could cash in on their incumbent number one Andre Onana in the New Year.
Onana, 25, has not played since January due to a doping ban and is out of contract in June.
Maarten Stekelenburg, the back-up keeper to Onana, sustained a season-ending hip injury in August and 38-year-old Remko Pasveer, who joined Ajax from Vitesse Arnhem in the summer to offset Onana’s absence, has started in all 14 games since.
Ajax have already qualified for the Champions League knockout stage and Henderson would be eligible to play in their last 16 matches.
United and Ajax have a productive relationship after they agreed the
David de Gea has regained form and is widely considered United’s player of the year so far
£40million transfer of Donny van de Beek last year.
Van der Sar wrote an open letter to United fans that was printed in the Manchester Evening News asking them to ‘take good care’ of Van de Beek.
Henderson was informed in the summer he was due to start the season as the United number one but the England international contracted Covid-19 in late July and he was laid low for over a month. David de Gea started the season unchallenged and has regained form, with the Spaniard widely considered to be United’s player of the year so far.
United signed former Burnley and Aston Villa stopper Tom Heaton on a free transfer in the summer and the 35-year-old’s Premier League experience would offset the need to sign another back-up keeper.
Henderson’s only appearance for United this term was in the League
Cup defeat to West Ham and he has lost his place in the England squad, which now includes former United academy graduate Sam Johnstone and Henderson’s replacement at Sheffield United, Aaron Ramsdale.
Van der Sar was linked with the director of football post at United before John Murtough was installed as the football director in March.
Ajax coach Erik ten Hag has been suggested as a possible replacement for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.