James Shield's Sheffield United Column: How to deal with a 'problem', if you can call it that, like Deano

Either the team to whom they are permanently contracted or, in the case of Dean Henderson and Sheffield United, the side responsible for helping them make the leap from aspiring young wannabe to a player good enough to scare the living daylights out of David de Gea. The Spaniard, Manchester United’s first choice goalkeeper for the past 10 seasons, is now peering anxiously over his shoulder at the 23-year-old following an error strewn campaign at Manchester United - a slump in form which coincided with Henderson’s commanding displays in South Yorkshire, where he has been on loan since 2018.

In normal circumstances, Wilder would be expected to jump at the chance to renew United’s agreement with their namesakes from the North-West and bring Henderson back for a third and most probably final spell. No one who watched his performances last term can be in any doubt about Henderson’s prowess between the posts and, having turned countless delicately poised games into draws or narrow wins, that he was one of the major reasons why United finished ninth in the Premier League and challenged for a place in Europe immediately after securing promotion from the Championship.

But the more you analyse the proposal officials at Old Trafford have presented to their counterparts at Bramall Lane, the more it becomes clear why Wilder and his coaching staff are now considering alternative options - namely AFC Bournemouth’s Aaron Ramsdale who, after being prised from United’s grasp while they were still languishing in League One, has also developed into a shot-stopper of huge potential.

The strange thing is, the situation Henderson and the two Uniteds now find themselves in has arisen because of the professionalism of all three parties involved. Four if you count his agent who, to be frank, has represented his client superbly.

The career development programme Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Manchester United’s football administration department devised for Henderson has worked perfectly - equipping him with the experience and the self-belief to dislodge de Gea. United have handled him perfectly, with Wilder and coach Darren Ward quickly realising Henderson was someone who could not only be trusted to help deliver results but also possessed a personality which responded to criticism. By refusing to shield him from the glare of the spotlight, particularly when he made a mistake, they exposed him to the type of scrutiny anyone who pulls on a Manchester United jersey must be able to handle in order to build a career there. Henderson has listened, learned and progressed. His representative, meanwhile, has demonstrated shrewd business savvy - negotiating improved terms and conditions, but insisting upon short contract extensions, in order to keep the pressure on Solskjaer. The Norwegian knows he can not kick the ‘Henderson Problem’ into the medium length grass.

The latest deal Henderson is expected to sign, however, is what makes it so difficult for United to renew their arrangement with Manchester United. With his wage reportedly set to rise to around £100,000 a week - and brokers acting on Solskjaer’s behalf asking Wilder’s employers to cover most, if not all, of that amount - it would cost United around £5.2m plus a facilitation fee to bring Henderson back for a third spell. Despite making it clear he would prefer him to spend another year working under Wilder and Ward, Solskjaer appears to have made little effort to urge Manchester United to lower the financial burden on United. Unless they do, it makes sense for Wilder to walk away and look elsewhere - albeit with a heavy heart. Because United, despite not boasting the same worldwide profile or stature as Manchester United, aren’t their feeder team either. They are a proud and historic club in their own right.

The sum United are likely to have to pay to persuade Bournemouth to part company with Ramsdale is expected to be a little under four times the amount required to retain Henderson’s services for the 2020/21 campaign. (With the benefit of hindsight, they probably wish they had insisted on a buy back rather than a sell on clause before allowing Ramsdale to head to the Vitality Stadium). But it would also be an investment in the future - with many within the game, including plenty of wise old heads at United, believing he has the ability to eventually join Henderson in Gareth Southgate’s senior international squad. Wilder will also be aware that, with Bournemouth being relegated from the top-flight last season, Ramsdale might not be available next summer - when Henderson, if Solskjaer sticks to his original plan, will almost certainly depart for good anyway.

With few of the PL’s leading members in the market for an on-loan goalkeeper - or at least one who would be guaranteed a regular starting berth - Manchester United are actually in a more awkward position than United - because Henderson wants to play week in, week out, ahead of the rescheduled European Championships. They are the ones, as stupid as it sounds, who have more to fear if Wilder secures Ramsdale’s signature. United know, with Wes Foderingham recently arriving on a free from Rangers, that they are likely to have some strong options at their disposal come what may.

Unless Solskjaer and his advisors relent, and lower their demands, then Wilder appears right to move on.

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