---
title: "Exclusive: Keith Gillespie says Henderson has taken over De Gea as United’s first-choice"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/exclusive-keith-gillespie-says-henderson-has-taken-over-de-gea-as-uniteds-first-choice-e102/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Jake Sanders"
section: "Exclusive"
published: "2021-05-28T04:20:00Z"
modified: "2021-05-28T04:20:00Z"
---

# Exclusive: Keith Gillespie says Henderson has taken over De Gea as United’s first-choice

**Keith Gillespie believes that Dean Henderson will be Manchester United’s number one goalkeeper moving forward, and reckons that David Da Gea might have played his last game for the club.**

If the Spaniard does leave Old Trafford this summer, his final kick in a United shirt would have been the decisive penalty which cost them a second Europe League title in five seasons following their dramatic shoot-out defeat to Villarreal on Wednesday.

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Not only did De Gea’s missed penalty prevent his fifth major trophy for the Red Devils, but it leaves United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer searching for his first.

The 30-year-old started in United’s previous five European matches, part of [36](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/david-de-gea/leistungsdaten/spieler/59377) appearances in all competitions, but has endured the most testing of his 10 seasons at Old Trafford and has lost his place in the Premier League side.

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With Dean Henderson now the first-choice in the league, reports believe that Man United are preparing to [offload](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/man-utd-set-hand-david-23847896) the Spanish goalkeeper to allow the former Sheffield United loanee to become their permanent number one.

Asked whether Henderson is now above De Gea in the pecking order, Gillespie told **[The Transfer Tavern](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/):**

*“I think he is. I think when they brought him back, they did have that long-term that he was going to be the number one.*

*“I wouldn’t be surprised if David De Gea goes back to Spain in the summer, but he’s been an unbelievable servant, a great goalkeeper.”*