Dean Henderson omitted from Manchester United squad as he pushes for loan

Manchester United goalkeeper Dean Henderson is still pushing for a loan move this month.

Henderson has been omitted from the United squad for their FA Cup third round tie against Aston Villa when he was widely expected to start.

The 24-year-old has only started twice this season after he was sidelined at the start of the campaign with Covid-19 and Ajax registered their interest in loaning Henderson back in November.

The Manchester Evening News revealed last month Henderson met Rangnick to express his desire for a loan move this month but Rangnick is unwilling to let the England international go.

Rangnick wants three first-team-ready goalkeepers and the fourth-choice Lee Grant has not played since November 2019. Tom Heaton, currently third-choice, made his United debut last month.

Henderson’s absence for the Villa match is understood to be related to his future and efforts are continuing to secure him a loan move before deadline day in three weeks’ time.

Rangnick has not picked Anthony Martial in United’s last three games after he informed the interim manager of his wish to leave this month. United have already rejected an offer from Sevilla.

Henderson is contracted to United until 2025 and earns around £120,000-a-week. He had been told he was due to start the season as the number one goalkeeper but contracted Covid in the second week of pre-season and was laid low for a month.

United number one David de Gea has returned to form and started in all 19 of United’s Premier League matches this term, as well as five of their six Champions League group stage games.

Tottenham are monitoring Henderson’s situation with a view to a summer transfer as Hugo Lloris approaches the last six months of his contract.

Henderson felt mismanaged at United by former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and the ‘keeper was one of a number of players promised first-team opportunities only to be denied them. Jesse Lingard, Diogo Dalot and Donny van de Beek all had similar gripes.

At this stage, Henderson is prepared to leave United permanently but the club has shown no inclination to sell the England international.

The Ajax chief executive and former United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar is a confirmed admirer of Henderson while the Dutch champions’ coach, Erik ten Hag, is under consideration to become the next permanent manager at United.