Rangnick doubles down on Henderson transfer stance despite goalkeeper's plea

Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick has confirmed that he will not sell goalkeeper Dean Henderson in the January transfer window.

That is despite Henderson's desire to leave the club after starting just two games this season, firmly playing second fiddle to David De Gea.

Reports earlier this month suggested that the 24-year-old had asked Rangnick to depart but the Red Devils boss rejected his plea.

And following United's 1-0 win against Aston Villa on Monday, Rangnick told talkSPORT that the situation has not changed and Henderson, who missed the FA Cup Third Round tie through illness, is not going anywhere.

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The one-time England international was picked up by the Red Devils as a 14-year-old from local side Carlisle United.

Since then, Henderson has risen through the academy ranks and starred on five separate loan spells; most notably with Sheffield United as he helped the Blades to promotion to the Premier League.

Having returned to Old Trafford full-time and signed a long-term contract in the summer of 2020, the United stopper spent last term jostling with De Gea for the No.1 spot, starting six successive games in the spring.

But after a shaky end to the campaign, Henderson was usurped by the experienced Spaniard, who is himself on course to win a fifth Player of the Year award and looks back to his best.

Understandably, the Cumbrian has been keen to get more minutes under his belt ahead of the Qatar World Cup later this year.

Ajax are reportedly interested in his services but any permanent move would end a long-time dream for Henderson - being first-choice at Old Trafford.

Never short of confidence on or off the pitch, Henderson was asked directly about his ambition last year and if he still believed he could be No1.

"Yeah, 100 per cent. I've spoke about this for years," he affirmed. "Whether it gets me in trouble speaking about it, whether it holds me back at certain times, it probably does.

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"But at the end of the day it'll happen one day and I know it'll happen, so I'm just going to keep working hard day in, day out and my time will come. I was 100 per cent born ready.

"I've just got to be ready for when that time comes. There's no excuses when you step over that white line.

"You've got to puff your chest out and go for it and everything that you've put in day in, day out, all the training, everything, pays off."