HENDERSON TIPPED TO DEPOSE DE GEA
DAVID DE GEA could be gone from Manchester United in a year – with Dean Henderson in line to become Old Trafford’s number one. That’s the view of former United keeper Chris Turner (right) who believes boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has seen enough to know Henderson isn’t just the future – he’s the here and now.
And that could spell bad news for 30-year-old De Gea, with his £350,000-a-week wages now being scrutinised by United’s hierarchy in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Henderson has played in United’s last six games after De Gea (below) returned to Spain for the birth of his first child with partner Edurne Garcia.
He’s kept four clean sheets, including tough away wins at Manchester City and AC Milan.
Turner, who played almost
100 games for United under
Ron Atkinson and Sir Alex
Ferguson in the mid1980s, believes a changing of the goalkeeping guard is inevitable – and could happen sooner rather than later.
“Henderson looks like he could be
United’s keeper for the next ten years,” says Turner, who has been impressed with the way the 24-year-old has grabbed his chance.
“I’m not sure when the shift will come, but if Dean keeps his place against Brighton after the international break the writing will be on the wall for De Gea.
“Let’s be clear, though, De Gea has done nothing wrong. He is still a world-class keeper and has proved himself time and again.
“You can’t just dismiss what he’s given United the last ten years. But he’s not had any real competition in all that time.
“And when you know you are going to be playing week in week out your standards can slip.
“All of a sudden Dean has emerged as a genuine threat and is proving himself a capable keeper who will only get better with more experience.
“There’s no way De Gea will want to play second fiddle to a younger keeper.
“So maybe he’ll look to move back to Spain in the next twelve months, although his huge wages could be a problem.
“I still think he’ll be at United next season and will want to force his way back in, but this is where Solskjaer’s man management will be vital.”