Chelsea ‘ready to hand Dean Henderson a £170,000-a-week deal if Manchester United don’t guarantee him first-team football’… but goalkeeper will cost £55m as Frank Lampard searches for new No 1
- Chelsea are keen to swoop for Manchester United goalkeeper Dean Henderson
- The Blues are on the search for a new first-choice stopper ahead of next season
- Henderson demanded first-team football at United before penning a new deal
- And Chelsea are now said to be favourites to sign the highly-rated 23-year-old
Chelsea are reportedly poised to offer Dean Henderson a bumper £170,000-a-week deal should Manchester United fail to guarantee the highly-rated goalkeeper regular first-team action.
The 23-year-old, who has enjoyed another successful campaign with Sheffield United, recently returned to Old Trafford and has demanded guaranteed game time before signing a new deal.
According to The Mirror, Henderson tops Frank Lampard’s shortlist for a new stopper this summer with a £55million offer believed to be enough to snare him.
Chelsea are reportedly favourites to sign Manchester United goalkeeper Dean Henderson
The highly-rated 23-year-old tops Frank Lampard’s shortlist for a new stopper this summer
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is keen to tie down Henderson to a new long-term contract and provide competition for under-fire David de Gea, but is believed to still view the Spain international as his first-choice keeper.
As such, Solskjaer may be unwilling to offer Henderson the assurances he is hoping for despite De Gea enduring a season littered with high-profile errors.
Henderson harbours ambitions of breaking into the England senior team and is said to have told friends that, while he is ‘desperate’ to play for United, he is open to looking elsewhere.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer still views David de Gea as his first-choice despite his string of mistakes
Henderson has impressed with Sheffield United and has demanded regular Old Trafford action
Chelsea would then be favourites to sign Henderson should they table a hefty offer.
Lampard remains unconvinced by current custodian Kepa Arrizabalaga, having dropped the £72m man for the crunch final game of the season against Wolves.
The same outlet suggest Henderson is his first-choice target for a replacement, with Tottenham also holding an interest.
The North London outfit will not be dragged into a bidding war, however, despite Jose Mourinho believing Henderson is now a better stopper than De Gea.
The ambitious stopper is believed to have told friends he is open to securing a move away
Henderson, who has two years left on his United deal, kept 13 clean sheets from 36 games at Bramall Lane this campaign. Chris Wilder is understandably keen to flesh out a third consecutive loan spell.
But it is now believed that Henderson is keen to play at a higher level provided he is first-choice.
Sportsmail previously reported that Henderson’s representatives are set to meet Old Trafford officials over the coming days to reach an agreement over the ambitious player’s future.
They will also hold discussions over improving the £35,000-a-week contract Henderson signed a year ago to reflect his progress between the sticks.
