Ten Hag takes key role in search for De Gea back-up after fiery Henderson exit

ERIK TEN HAG is taking an active role in Manchester United’s search for a new keeper.

The club have spent weeks scouting for a No 2 to David de Gea. 

Dean Henderson is on loan at Nottingham Forest so cover is needed.

Keeper scout Tony Coton has options but insiders say boss Ten Hag has his own favourites, although they may be more expensive than the budget plan.

The search has put Nathan Bishop’s loan move to Wycombe on hold and even stopped 36-year-old Tom Heaton going elsewhere for the season.

But the Red Devils are sending highly-rated defender Charlie Wellens to Crewe on loan.

The 19-year-old, who is the son of Leyton Orient boss Richie, has been a regular for United at right-back or wing-back in their Under-23 side.

Henderson this week fumed at “criminal” United for wasting a year of his career with false promises of the No 1 spot.

The 25-year-old claimed he was promised the No 1 role ahead of David de Gea by ex-United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer last summer — but played just THREE games.

And he admitted he never had any intention of sticking around under Ten Hag this term.

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He said: “I turned so many good loans down last summer for that reason  and they wouldn’t let me go.

“To waste 12 months was criminal really, at my age. I was fuming. It was so frustrating.”

 didn’t really want the manager to   see me in training because I knew he’d probably want to keep me. 

“I told all the hierarchy: ‘I need to go and play football. I don’t want to be  playing second fiddle’.

“And it panned out so I was almost gone before the manager came in.”

Henderson got off to a disappointing start at the at Forest as they suffered a 2-0 opening day defeat to Newcastle.