Manchester United transfer news: Jose Mourinho fighting to keep hold of England Under-21s star Dean Henderson as Arsenal and Benfica plot swoop
MANCHESTER UNITED face a fight to keep hold of England Under-21s star Dean Henderson.
The 20-year-old goalkeeper is out of contract next summer and is yet to be tied down to a new deal at Old Trafford.
Henderson, who has shone for Shrewsbury Town on loan so far this campaign, is now starting to attract attention from big guns at home and abroad.
United’s Premier League rivals Arsenal are closely monitoring his situation as they plot a swoop for the soon-to-be out of contract ace.
The Gunners would have to pay a compensation fee for the starlet, but they could be pipped to his signature by Benfica.
The Portuguese giants, who signed fellow Three Lions youth star Chris Willock from the North London side this summer, are also keen on Henderson.
And they would be able to get him on a free transfer under the Bosman ruling due to being a foreign club.
The powerhouses are not the only ones trying to bag the services of the youngster.
A host of Championship sides would also love to recruit him.
And after tasting senior football firstly at Grimsby last season and with the Shrews this campaign, Henderson does not want to go back playing youth football.
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He is believed to be seeking clear assurance from Jose Mourinho and the Red Devils’ hierarchy that he has a clear path to the first-team in the North West.
But if that cannot be guaranteed then he is ready to take the brave move and leave United in order to help his progression and development.
Henderson is currently with the Young Lions squad and helped his country to U20 World Cup joy in June.
He was been in outstanding form for table-topping Shrewsbury and helped them to break a club record by going the first eleven games of the campaign unbeaten.
The shotstopper has kept five clean sheets for the League One leaders in his 11 matches for the club.
That adds to the four shut-outs out of seven he recorded while on loan at Grimsby at the back end of the last campaign.
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