Dean Henderson one of the two stars whose future may be decided by RB Leipzig clash
Mirror state in their report that the UEFA Champions League group stage match between Manchester United and RB Leipzig has the potential to decide the futures of Dean Henderson and Dayot Upamecano.
Manchester United will face Leipzig in a do-or-die European encounter next week as both teams’ qualification to the UCL last-16 hangs by a thread.
Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United, and RB Leipzig are all locked in on 9 points after 5 group games, as the Red Devils squandered the chance to ensure qualification in a 1-3 defeat against PSG at home last week.
A draw for Untied will be enough to secure qualification to the round of 16 but a loss means we will play in the Europa League.
One player whose United career can be decided by the game against the Leipzig next week is Dean Henderson.
The 23-year-old English goalkeeper has massively struggled for game time at Old Trafford after returning in the summer from a loan spell with Sheffield United.
He has played second fiddle to David de Gea and has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford in January to get more game time and be a shoo-in for the English national team in the 2020 UEFA European Championship next summer.
If United are to be eliminated to the UEFA Europa League, that would take the number of probable fixtures that Henderson could feature in for United up to 19, including the domestic cups. (h/t Mirror)
If United do progress, then it is unlikely that Henderson would start over De Gea, who is on a £350,000-a-week contract.
Hence, what will be United’s loss can be Henderson’s gain as he may not have to look for a move away from United to get first-team football. Celtic and Leeds United are the two clubs that are interested in his services if he does decide to move.
The Mirror claims that if Leipzig are to be eliminated, Dayot Upamecano’s confirmed departure in the summer of 2021 may be preponed to January, with Manchester United one of the clubs in need of a centre back like him.
