Manchester United focused in the January transfer window on loaning out the players who had failed to get regular playing time at Old Trafford. While some players like Anthony Martial and Donny van de Beek got the loan moves that they had been looking for, there are a few who did not. Dean Henderson is one such player, who ended up staying at the club despite falling behind David de Gea in the pecking order once again.
A Manchester United academy graduate, Henderson had ended the 2020/21 season as the number one between the posts for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side. But De Gea’s incredible return to form means that the Englishman has not gotten a run of games this season.
Henderson will be looking to represent the England national team in the upcoming World Cup and as a result, he needs to be playing more regular football. According to stats from Transfermarkt, he has made just 3 appearances this season.
As a result, it had looked like Henderson had wanted to leave on loan this January but unfortunately, it failed to transpire.
Why Henderson’s Manchester United loan exit failed to transpire
As reported by Manchester Evening News, some sources have claimed that Watford’s inability to move one of their goalkeepers is the reason behind them failing to sign Henderson on loan last month and Manchester United did not block a move. But then there are other sources which have suggested that a loan move was blocked by the club.
Behind Henderson, Tom Heaton appears to be the third choice in the goalkeeping pecking order at Manchester United.
With the race for the top four heating up in the Premier League, it is unlikely that either Henderson or Heaton would get significant playing time in the remainder of the season unless some unexpected circumstances arise.