Manchester United are still keeping their options open with the goalkeeping situation

This summer is becoming a mirror of the 2019 close-season for Manchester United: reeling from dropping to sixth, Europa League football on the calendar, their stock in the transfer market is low and a recently-appointed manager is presiding over another reset. Or rebuild, recalibration, retool, whatever you want to call it.

It extends to the goalkeeping situation. Three years ago, United loaned Dean Henderson to a newly-promoted Premier League club, delaying the decision on when he could replace David de Gea.

Alas, United had a manager who was clinically indecisive. A heavily pregnant woman and a contagious disease made the decisions for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and he still conducted his exit interview with the same unsustainable dynamic between De Gea and Henderson unresolved.

Also read: Henderson set for Forest as United target Bachmann

Henderson's brief stint as outright No.1 last year was enabled by De Gea's paternity leave. De Gea flew to Madrid in early March and Henderson was told to prepare to start the next six matches.

The Covid-19 pandemic and its mandatory quarantines at the time extended De Gea's absence and, by the time he was free from house arrest United had Europa League and FA Cup ties on the agenda, competitions designated for Henderson.

The turning point in Henderson's United career was the European Championship final at Wembley. He had been informed by Solskjaer he was due to start the season after withdrawing from the England squad with a troublesome groin injury but he braced the carnage on Wembley Way as a supporter. It is there where Henderson believes he contracted Covid-19.

Henderson reported for pre-season training the following week, tested positive and missed the opening friendly at Derby