Reports have surfaced suggesting Manchester United goalkeeper Dean Henderson is closing in on a move to Newcastle United.
The 25-year-old was reportedly in Newcastle for talks on Wednesday and it is understood discussions have been held over a season-long loan, rather than a permanent transfer.
Henderson has only played for United three times this season, none of which came in the Premier League. That’ll be a huge disappointment for the England man who came into the campaign set to be United’s number one.
He was promoted into that role by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer but contracted Covid-19 in his first week of pre-season training in July and then struggled to shake the illness, taking until September to fully recover.
During that period, David de Gea started in his place and put in an array of big performances, consequently reclaiming his position as first-choice keeper. But this potential loan move to Newcastle will allow Henderson the chance to showcase his abilities again.
With such an extended spell on the bench, it’s easy to forget that during his two-year loan with Sheffield United, Henderson was considered one of the team’s star performers. Especially during the 2019-20 Premier League campaign.
With the United graduate in between the sticks, the Blades shipped just 33 goals. Only Liverpool ’s Alisson could better that return, though he played noticeably fewer matches.
That total of 33 becomes that bit more impressive when you compare it with his post-shot Expected Goal (PSxG) total. PSxG is a metric which analyses how likely a keeper is to save a shot. You can find a full explanation on FBref’s website here, but in short, a positive difference between PSxG and goals conceded suggests above-average performances.
Notably for that season, Henderson had a PSxG of 38.2. This means that he conceded roughly five goals fewer than he should have based on the chances he faced.
Henderson overperformed again during his run in the United side last season, though admittedly by a much smaller margin (+0.3). However, the above does still look to shed some light on Henderson’s capabilities when provided with a proper run in a team.
United officials will be hoping that Henderson’s season at St James’ Park, should it come about, can help him again rediscover his best form, especially because as it stands the club are set to be at a crossroads in 12 months' time.
De Gea’s contract will expire next summer, and it’s not clear whether an extension will be offered, with that decision most likely set to be made by Erik ten Hag once he’s had the opportunity to fully assess the Spanish international.
As highlighted by Mirror Football earlier this month, it’s possible United’s new manager won’t consider the 31-year-old suitable for his philosophy, plus there may be a reluctance by the club to continue paying him a weekly wage of £375,000. Standout form from Henderson between now and then at Newcastle could make that decision on De Gea’s United future much easier.
