Dean Henderson knows he needs to leave Manchester United after January decision

Dean Henderson's phone, keys and wallet weren't far away on transfer deadline day as he sat at home watching the clock.

Although Henderson had made his desire to leave United on loan in the pursuit of regular minutes known early in the January transfer window, Ralf Rangnick had indicated it was his preference to have three top goalkeepers in his squad. There was a deadlock for Henderson to overcome for him to get his transfer. Watford made a late loan offer but the move didn't materialise.

Henderson knew his fate well before 11pm. His shoes at the door could be placed back onto the rack. Henderson remains at United after the January transfer window and he remains an understudy to David de Gea. Henderson wants more than that. The 24-year-old is at a pivotal moment in his career and he's desperate for first-team football after multiple loan spells away from United.

It seemed Henderson was United's No.1 in waiting last season. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's indecisiveness has been well documented and the debate surrounding Henderson and De Gea grew tedious as the campaign went on. That was down to Solskjaer's weak management. The former United boss admitted the goalkeeping situation was unsustainable but did nothing to address it.

There is no use in recognising problems if no attempts are made to solve them, however, Solskjaer didn't have to wrestle with the same dilemma this season due to circumstance. Henderson struggled to recover from the effects of Covid-19 at the end of summer and De Gea started on the opening day. The Spaniard has been nothing short of exemplary since. He's made a mockery of the debate.

It's now February and, while Henderson has been at full fitness for some time now, the England international has made just