Manchester United are being left frustrated by Nottingham Forest in their efforts to sell Dean Henderson this summer, according to reports. Henderson is widely expected to leave Old Trafford in the near future after spending last season on loan at the City Ground, where he made 20 appearances for Forest in all competitions.
The Reds are thought to be keen on bringing Henderson back on a permanent basis and have been locked in talks with United regarding a loan-to-buy agreement in recent weeks. However, discussions between the two clubs are being ‘complicated’ by a stalemate over the terms of an appearance clause, according to The Mirror.
It is said that United and Forest are yet to settle on the number of games it would take to activate the obligation to buy, with their difference in opinion causing a delay in getting the deal done. Forest would reportedly like it to be set at 30 games, although United are pushing for the clause to be triggered after far fewer appearances.
The two sides have also failed to agree on a transfer fee, with United valuing Henderson at about £30million and Forest seemingly unwilling to commit to that figure. It remains to be seen how the situation will develop over the coming days, but it would not be a surprise to see Henderson eventually move on to pastures new following Andre Onana’s recent arrival at Old Trafford.
Henderson has made no secret of his desire to play regular football away from United over the last few years, with the former England youth international desperate to avoid being reduced to a back-up role under Erik ten Hag. He revealed last summer that he asked to leave the Red Devils before the Dutchman had even arrived, with his loan move to Forest having been arranged very early in the window.
“I didn’t want the manager to come in and be able to see me in training,” Henderson told talkSPORT. “I knew he’d probably want to keep me, so I tried to do it all before I left for the season. I told all the hierarchy I need to go and play football. I don’t want to be here playing second fiddle.
“It was all planned out. I was almost gone before the manager came through the door and I haven’t spoken to him since. To be honest with you, it’s probably been the toughest 12 months of my career.”
However, it seems as though Ten Hag is not yet resigned to losing Henderson in spite of the latter’s desire to play on a weekly basis, with the United boss having issued a rallying cry to the 26-year-old during the club’s pre-season tour earlier this week.
“We have a group of keepers and, as everyone else, you have to fight for your position,” said Ten Hag. “I think that’s normal when you’re at United, and he [Henderson] is a good goalie, he has to fight and we have to see when he can return to team training.”
Want the latest Premier League news as we publish it on Express Sport? Join our Facebook group by clicking here.