Chelsea and Manchester United are locked in a massive signing war for future England No 1 Dean Henderson.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s money men opened talks about a contract extension with the star shot-stopper last week.
United are desperate for Henderson to stay with their move coming before David De Gea’s gaffe at Tottenham.
But there is a huge problem because Blues boss Frank Lampard has cash backing to stage a serious bid for the young keeper, who wants to be top dog for club and country.
Henderson, 23, has been a stand-out on loan for the Premier League’s surprise outfit Sheffield United this season.
He is guaranteed a giant pay-day whether he chooses to stay at Old Trafford or ups sticks for Stamford Bridge.
However, Chelsea hope that the chance to offer Henderson game-time in the Champions League next term will swing the tug of war their way.
That experience would boost his chances of becoming England’s first-choice keeper at the delayed Euro 2020 finals at the end of next season.
Henderson knows he is likely to be loaned out again if he commits to a new United deal.
For all of the fine words from United boss Solskjaer, he is still rated behind De Gea despite the Spaniard’s erratic display on Friday night.
But Henderson would be first choice at the Blues and Lampard has the chequebook out to go in hard, possibly offering as much as £50million for him after just ONE top-flight season.
