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De Gea, Romero... Man Utd's seven senior goalkeepers ranked best to worst

  /  autty

If there's one area in which Manchester United do not need to strengthen in the upcoming summer transfer window, it's between the posts.

The return of Dean Henderson from his Sheffield United loan will only enhance the choices Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has at his disposal. And with David de Gea still the No.1 and Sergio Romero arguably the best No.2 in the Premier League, it's a very strong department at the club right now.

So, discounting the options in Under-23s and Under-18s, MEN Sport ranks all seven of the current goalkeepers in the first team picture...

7. Kieran O'Hara

As a Republic of Ireland international who has impressed in his last two loan spells, with Macclesfield and more recently Burton Albion, O'Hara is a talent. The issue is that he's 23 and has a good number of goalkeepers ahead of him in the pecking order at United.

He's unlikely to ever feature for the first team, despite his promise, and will surely leave United permanently this summer when his contract expires.

6. Lee Grant

Grant, now 37, has signed a one-year extension with United but it's uncertain what his exact role will be next season.

He's been nothing more than a back-up option ever since he first signed for the club in July 2018 and has only made two first team appearances - in cup defeats to Derby and Astana.

His role as number three at United has now seemingly been passed on.

5. Nathan Bishop

United signed Bishop from Southend in the much more muted of their recent January deals. He's become their current third choice goalkeeper, a role he may retain next season depending on comings and goings.

The 20-year-old was previously a semi-regular in the League One side's first team, so will have aspirations of playing some football at United. The club clearly believe he has potential.

4. Joel Pereira

Pereira will return from his season-long loan to Hearts this summer with another year to run on his United contract.

And despite enjoying a more solid season in Scotland than he did last term - when he had unsuccessful spells at Vitoria Setubal in Portugal and with Belgian side KV Kortrijk - he may seek another move, either permanently or on loan again.

The 23-year-old was Jose Mourinho's third choice for a while but his chances of regular game time at United next season will be extremely slim.

3. Sergio Romero

If Romero is one of Europe's best second choice goalkeepers at the moment, then he would surely be the world's best third choice by far. Yet that's the role he faces playing at United if indeed Henderson returns from his spell at Sheffield United in the summer.

Romero has been content with cup appearances during his time at Old Trafford and has always performed admirably when called upon.

But now 33 and with a contract that expires in June 2021, he may start to assess his options in the summer depending on the Henderson situation.

2. Dean Henderson

Henderson has outlined his intentions to take the No.1 jersey at United as soon as he returns. And there would be many supporters who'd agree that the 22-year-old has done enough for the shirt, even if Peter Schmeichel dismissed Henderson's chances of usurping De Gea in the short term.

“There's a really big difference between being the No.1 at Bramall Lane and being the No.1 at Old Trafford, a really big difference," said the legendary ex United keeper.

"Even just being a player at those two clubs. So the question: De Gea or Henderson? There's really only one answer to that."

Henderson will be desperate to prove the great Dane wrong, though he will be second choice if he returns to the first team squad next summer.

1. David de Gea

It has not been a flawless couple of years for the Spaniard since his World Cup shocker in 2018. Having previously been United's stand-out player and four-time player of the year, De Gea's progress has stalled - perhaps even regressed. Mistakes have crept into his game.

Yet he signed a new long-term deal last summer and has enough credit in the bank to retain the support of Solskjaer and most United fans.

He must be ready for the greatest challenge yet to his role as United No.1.

Related: Manchester United