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Manchester United should allow Dean Henderson loan extension

Dean Henderson’s loan deal with Sheffield United is set to expire on June 30, but Manchester United are yet to make a decision on whether to extend.

This is according to the Manchester Evening News, who claim that the situation has become ‘complicated’ due to the two clubs being so close in the Premier League table. Should the Blades win their game in hand, they will overtake the Red Devils into fifth position.

Chris Wilder’s side have exceeded all expectations this season, and with just nine games to play, they are contenders to qualify for Europe. Henderson has no doubt played his part in such success, keeping ten Premier League clean sheets – only Burnley’s Nick Pope has registered more.

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The Englishman has been praised for his individual performances, with many United fans even calling for him to return to Old Trafford this summer, to challenge David de Gea for the number one position.

Whilst this situation looks unlikely, there can be no denying the progression made by Henderson in Sheffield, and the Red Devils would be foolish to cut this deal short. The 23-year-old is being moulded into a future United starter, and the risk of upsetting the player seems an unnecessary one to take.

Whilst the Blades do pose an undeniable threat in the league, no matter how much Wilder wants to downplay their position, not allowing Henderson to see out this dream campaign with a club he has spent almost two years with will only cause a downward spiral. The player is already justly frustrated with the lack of first-team openings at Old Trafford, even despite De Gea’s slight deterioration.

The decision to loan the goalkeeper out for a sixth successive season next year already seems to have been made, even though the player has a case to call himself the best Premier League figure in-between the sticks this season. Speculation began to arise around his frustration earlier in the year, but his time at United will come in 2021.

Such time may feel an entirety for the promising talent, but he must remain patient and take his opening when it comes. For the club though, they must also pay their due, and allow Henderson to see out the season with the Sheffield side.

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