Dean Henderson: Why wasn’t the Manchester United goalkeeper allowed to join Watford?

Manchester United’s January 2022 deadline day was defined as much by the players who didn’t leave as those who departed.

While Donny van de Beek joined Anthony Martial in getting his desired move away from Old Trafford, Dean Henderson and Jesse Lingard didn’t.

ManchesterWorld were told the latter was staying in the final few hours of the window, but information on Henderson proved much more difficult to obtain.

The goalkeeper ended last season as the Red Devils’ first-choice between the sticks but he picked up Covid-19 in the summer which allowed David De Gea to assert himself in the team. From there, the Spaniard hasn’t looked back and has been the club’s best performer this term.

It’s for that reason Henderson was linked with a move away from the club in January, with Southampton, Ajax and Newcastle United among the potential suitors.

But it was Watford who came in with a deadline-day offer for the keeper, which was reportedly rejected by United.

According to the Manchester Evening News, this was due to the Red Devils not feeling they had enough time to replace the 24-year-old, despite having a former England international in their ranks, in the form of the experienced Tom Heaton.

The MEN add Henderson was ‘left aggrieved’ with the handling of the situation, while his future ‘hinges on whoever becomes the next permanent manager at United’.

Henderson has made just two appearances this season for United, both in cup games, and his lack of game-time has seen him lose his spot in the England squad.