Home » Article » Why this 21-year-old Leeds and Bristol City target has done a mistake by not moving away from current club

Why this 21-year-old Leeds and Bristol City target has done a mistake by not moving away from current club

According to reports, England U21 goalkeeper Dean Henderson has signed a new contract with Manchester United.

With his previous contract expiring this summer, Henderson was free to leave Old Trafford on a free transfer. In fact, Bristol City and Leeds United were among a number of clubs linked with the goalkeeper.

But the new contract has tied the 21-year-old down to Old Trafford until 2020, with the option of extending for another year.

Henderson enjoyed a terrific loan spell with League One side Shrewsbury Town last season, making 46 appearances in all competitions. His impressive performances earned him a place in the PFA League One Team of the Year, meaning he could have joined any side he wanted. But the player decided to stay back with the Red Devils.

His decision is baffling, to say the least. Henderson is far behind in the pecking order at Old Trafford, with David De Gea, Sergio Romero and Joel Pereira ahead of him.

De Gea is United’s undisputed No.1 and they have a solid No.2 in Romero. As things stand, Pereira has been unable to play often and in such a situation, the future looks hopelessly bleak for Henderson.

Hence, it seems like Henderson has clearly made a mistake by choosing to stay put at United. His contract was up this summer and he should have left the club to kick-start his career elsewhere. Right now, his best chance of action would be to go out on loan yet again.

Henderson has been making noticeable strides over the past year in terms of his professional development. This past season, he was arguably the best goalkeeper in League One, constantly dishing out incredible performances for Shrewsbury.

The 21-year-old thrived despite the testing environment of League One Football, establishing himself as a fan-favourite through sheer determination, relentless dedication and top attitude.

Given his age, this is the right time for the youngster to establish his career at a club instead of depending on loan deals. He has the quality and the temperament to become the No.1 goalkeeper for any club but it is evident that he is unlikely to receive such an opportunity at United anytime soon.

One must credit Mourinho for tying Henderson down to a new contract but that may hinder the 21-year-old’s personal development and long-term success. Henderson is clearly a talent but should have moved on from United to pastures anew this summer.

Comments are closed.