Sheffield United are set to complete the signing of a potential Dean Henderson replacement.
According to TalkSPORT, the Blades have had an £18.5m bid accepted for Bournemouth goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.
Ramsdale signed for Bournemouth in January 2017 but impressed in the Premier League and it now seems likely that he will be the new number one at Bramall Lane next season.
The signing of Ramsdale all but ends the suggestion that Manchester United ‘keeper Henderson will be returning to Sheffield for a third consecutive loan spell next season.
It had been thought that Henderson could benefit from another full season in the Premier League with the Blades, but Chris Wilder’s permanent transfer of a first-choice shot-stopper shows that Henderson’s short-term future lies elsewhere.
Henderson was outstanding last season, keeping 13 clean sheets in the Premier League and ending the campaign as England’s best goalkeeper.
He has now returned to Old Trafford, as confirmed by the club website who listed him among the other goalkeepers at the club.
But Ole Gunnar Solskjaer still has the full backing of David De Gea and it is unlikely that Henderson will settle for a deputising role next season.
Another season on loan at Sheffield United may have been ideal, but Henderson will now have to pursue other loan options if he is to eventually make his dream of becoming first-choice at United a reality.
ESPN reported back in April that United will resist all bids for the 23-year-old who is still seen as a successor for De Gea.
Therefore, if Henderson wants to remain patient in his pursuit of the number one jersey at Old Trafford, he could benefit from further experience on loan, perhaps abroad at a top European club.
United cannot afford to let Henderson leave permanently this summer but Sheffield United’s signing of Aaron Ramsdale is proof that Solskjaer has different plans for the youngster next term.
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