What about De Gea? What does Henderson contract mean for Spaniard?

Dean Henderson is Manchester United’s future, but what about De Gea? The new five-year deal Henderson signed conveys that is the case. But who is the present? Henderson had a fantastic season with Sheffield United as they shocked everyone with a top ten finish in their first year back in the Premier League. Now he has received a call up to the England squad and the future for the 23-year-old looks bright.

By signing the contract with Manchester United it becomes unlikely he will go out on loan again next season with manager Ole Gunnar Solksjaer saying “We are in a strong position within the goalkeeping department and that gives us the competition for places that we are looking for in the squad.” This likely means he will be competing with David De Gea for the number one position at Old Trafford this upcoming season.

But who should get the nod?

If you are going based on form alone then Henderson gets the nod. Sheffield United let in the least amount of goals from any team outside the top three of Liverpool, Manchester City, and his parent club United. Henderson was a big reason behind that, posting a 0.92 goals allowed per 90 minutes played, letting in 33 goals in 36 games played. In the two games against Manchester United that he was ineligible the Blades let in six goals. His save percentage was 0.752.

De Gea on the other hand posted a 0.95 goals allowed per ninety minutes played and let in 36 goals in 38 games. De Gea’s save percentage finished at 0.736 with some of those goals allowed putting him under the spotlight. Roy Keane, a former United player and current pundit, lit him up in the first game back after an enforced break against Tottenham. After conceding what Keane deemed as a soft goal the former United captain said “I would be finding him [De Gea] at half-time, there is no getting away from that. I would be swinging punches at that guy. That is a standard save for an established international goalkeeper”.

De Gea also had howlers against Arsenal and Watford this season causing some United fans to call for him to be dropped. Now they may be about to get their wish. The question then becomes do United cash in on De Gea? Dean Henderson is Manchester United’s future, but what about De Gea?At only 29 years old does that make De Gea the past? It’s looking likely.

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