David De Gea’s position at Manchester United is reportedly under threat next season for the first time ever after a series of blunders.
Dean Henderson could be poised for a return to Old Trafford after impressing on loan at Sheffield United – with the club set to meet with his representatives this month.
De Gea has been United’s undisputed number one since moving to Old Trafford from Atletico Madrid nine years ago – clocking up 393 appearances.
But The Daily Mail have reported that the Spanish shot stopper is under scrutiny with concerns over the his level of performance and concentration.
He suffered yet another howler to gift Everton an early lead in the 1-1 draw on Sunday after his lazy pass rebounded off Dominic Calvert-Lewin and into the net.
His latest gaffe follows an embarrassing mistake in December when he handed Watford a goal in a 2-0 defeat at Vicarage Road.
The 29-year-old fluffed a shot by Ismaila Sarr and somehow managed to let the ball slip through his gloves.
The £375,000-a-week-stopper has now made the most errors leading to goals in the Prem since the start of last season – racking up seven stinkers.
He is joint top with the Toffees’ Jordan Pickford, Newcastle’s Martin Dubravka and Bernd Leno for Arsenal.
Mistakes were never common for the previously infallible keeper until all hell broke loose in the 2-2 draw with the Gunners in December last season.
Questions began to be asked when the Spaniard palmed a Shkodran Mustafi header up and into the net.
He froze against the north London club again four months later by letting an ambitious 30-yard Granit Xhaka strike easily past him in a costly 2-0 defeat at the Emirates.
In a 2-0 loss to rivals City, the 29-year-old pinged a Leroy Sane strike with his own foot into goal which should have been a routine stop.
Just four days later De Gea was at it again against Chelsea.
He spilled an Antonio Rudiger long-ranger into Marco Alonso’s path for him to pounce on and rescue a point at Old Trafford.
United then fell to a shock 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace after Patrick van Aanholt fired a shot through the hands of De Gea in injury time to snatch the win.
With questions being raised about the 29-year-old Spaniard, Ole Gunnar Solskjær will assess the goalkeeping situation over the next few months.
Henderson has emerged as one of the best keepers in the Prem – helping the promoted Blades into contention for a European place.
And is challenging De Gea for his position for the first time in nine years.
Dean Henderson has helped the Blades within touching distance of European footballCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
