Ajax is interested in taking Manchester United goalkeeper Dean Henderson on loan in the January transfer window.
Exploratory talks were held while Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was the United manager and it remains to be seen what interim manager Ralf Rangnick’s plans are for Henderson.
Henderson, 24, has only played once all season and is open to embarking on a six-month or 18-month loan in the new year. Dutch sources have confirmed Ajax’s interest and the club enquired about Henderson 18 months ago when his season-long loan with Sheffield United ended.
United have not decided whether to let Henderson go on loan in January and he is expected to start in the final Champions League group stage match against Young Boys at Old Trafford on Wednesday night. Henderson is believed to be eager to impress Rangnick.
The Ajax chief executive and former United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar is a confirmed admirer of Henderson and the Dutch champions could cash in on incumbent number one Andre Onana in the New Year. Onana, 25, has played once since January due to a doping ban and is out of contract in June.
Maarten Stekelenburg, the backup ‘keeper to Onana, sustained a season-ending hip injury in August and the 38-year-old Remko Pasveer, who joined Ajax from Vitesse Arnhem in the summer to offset Onana’s absence, has started in 16 of Ajax’s 17 games since.
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Ajax has already qualified for the Champions League knockout stage as Group C winners and Henderson would be eligible to play in their last 16 matches.
Henderson is still determined to establish himself as United’s number one goalkeeper but is prepared to leave to get regular playing time. Henderson has no issue if United decides to sell him but the club has not indicated their intention to do so.
United and Ajax have a productive relationship after they agreed to the £40million transfer of Donny van de Beek last year. Van der Sar wrote an open letter to United fans that was printed in the Manchester Evening News asking them to ‘take good care of Van de Beek.
Henderson was informed in the summer he was due to start the season as the United number one but the England international contracted Covid-19 in late July and he was laid low for over a month. David de Gea started the season unchallenged and has regained form, with the Spaniard widely considered to be United’s player of the season so far.
It will be a great move for Dean Henderson