Manchester United took the decision to once again loan Dean Henderson out for the 2022/23 season. The English goalkeeper looked on the cusp of taking the starting spot around a year ago, but David de Gea's resurgence in shot-stopping form and an untimely bout of Covid derailed Henderson's rise to being the club's number one.
With his temporary departure, however, a spot has opened up in the squad for a backup goalkeeper. The Manchester Evening News understands that United had explored the possibility of bringing either Watford's Daniel Bachmann or Newcastle's Karl Darlow as back-up for the upcoming season.
New reports have now claimed United may have settled on Thomas Strakosha, who is available on a free transfer after leaving Lazio this summer. At 27, the Albanian keeper still has a lot of his career ahead of him and would be a fine backup to De Gea this season.
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Strakosha is a fine shot-stopper, though in recent seasons he has been lacking in confidence and prone to making errors. Hopefully for United and the player, Erik ten Hag will be able to help him find his feet again at Old Trafford and also make use of his fantastic passing range in possession as well.
If United sign Strakosha, it might well be good news for Henderson. De Gea's contract expires at the end of the 2023 season, with the option to extend for a further year, but many fans have been debating whether it is best for United to part ways with the Spanish keeper who is earning incredibly high wages at Old Trafford.
If De Gea does leave this means that someone will be able to step into the starting spot. So with United preferring not to invest in a young keeper who can eventually become a starter, Henderson still has a chance. His loan spell at Nottingham Forest will give him the best opportunity to shine and showcase his ability (again) over 36 games.
Henderson was made over two years at Sheffield United, so he will hopefully experience a similar resurgence while at Forest. And then United will have a serious decision to make.
Will they extend De Gea, will Strakosha have made a good enough impression that he becomes the starting keeper at Old Trafford, or will the club continue with their original plan to make Henderson the number one keeper at the club (even if they themselves derailed it twice over)?
Next season will answer a lot of questions but it will also put the ball firmly in Ten Hag's court to make a decision.
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