This article is part of Football FanCast's Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news...

According to The Sun, Manchester United will "spark an auction" for Dean Henderson once the current season is over.

What's the word?

The England U21 international spent the entirety of last year on loan at Sheffield United, helping them to promotion to the Premier League by conceding just 41 goals - the joint-fewest in the Championship.

Having signed a new contract with the Red Devils earlier this summer, Henderson re-joined Chris Wilder's men for this season, but made a huge howler in the 1-0 defeat to Liverpool at the weekend.

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Now, The Sun claim the new deal that was offered to number one shot-stopper, David de Gea, has increased the likelihood of United potentially selling Henderson next year. The report adds Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's will hope to get a fee in the region of £20m for the 22-year-old.

Foolishness

Sending Henderson back on loan to Sheffield United is one thing, but actively looking to sell him? Simply put, the Red Devils would be foolish to make such a decision.

Whilst De Gea is the club's undisputed number one, he has hardly covered himself in glory over the past 12-18 months. The Spain international made four errors directly leading to goals in the Premier League last season, and surely a bit of genuine competition would help push him back to his old self?

Now gaining invaluable experience in the top-flight with the Blades, Henderson is getting incredible exposure to the pressures of playing at the highest level. It will undoubtedly stand him in good stead for when he returns to Old Trafford next year after his loan spell ends. If, as The Sun claim, United will look to get around £20m for the academy product, then that's barely any money in the modern market, and not worth losing a man who could potentially replace De Gea in the long-term.

The Red Devils would simply be better off giving him an honest chance of trying to make it at the club.