Amidst speculation over his future in the Summer window, Crystal Palace captain Dean Henderson is negotiating terms on a new contract which would keep him in South London until 2030. 

Henderson missed Palace’s 3-2 Premier League defeat to Ipswich Town due to an ankle injury that he suffered in the pre-season defeat to SC Freiburg. 

The Palace skipper will be out of action until after the international break, as he continues to recover from the injury. 

There were rumours late in the Summer window that Henderson was being tracked by a number of Premier League clubs, most notably Nottingham Forest, with some reports suggesting that the player was ‘desperate’ for a move away from the club. 

Those rumours were of course empty, and Henderson has made it clear that extending his current deal with Palace is a priority. A report from Alan Nixon dropped the news this morning, and Palace fans will see this as a timely boost to morale after a disappointing start to the season. 

Talks are believed to be at an advanced stage, and the ‘keeper would receive a healthy pay rise which could make him one of if not the highest paid player at the club. 

With two years left on his current terms, Palace are acting fast to secure the long term future of one of their most consistent performers. 

Henderson played a key role in Palace’s success in recent years, making numerous vital saves on the way to lifting the Conference League and of course putting in a top display at Wembley in the FA Cup final win, saving Omar Marmoush’s penalty. 

Securing his services and shoring up the number one goalkeeping position for the next 3-4 years is a great move from Palace and an important one too. 

When he was first signed, there was a clear understanding that Henderson would likely become the number one option at Palace. However, many fans leant in the favour of Sam Johnstone at times, even suggesting that the former Palace ‘keeper should have been starting ahead of Henderson. 

Fast forward a few years, and Henderson stakes a strong claim to be Palace’s best ever goalkeeper, and has led the team to numerous trophies as club captain. The role that he plays is not only important on the pitch, but away from it too. 

His interaction with the fans, and the way he has entirely bought into the club and what it stands for is also a huge reason why this new deal is so desperately needed. 

Palace fans have seen first hand how little loyalty there is in modern football, with Ismaïla Sarr pushing desperately for a move away despite the club reviving his career which was stagnating in Marseille.

With Henderson, it does feel different, as if he genuinely cares for the club and the fans, and the emotion that he shows week in week out, let alone in the numerous finals he has played in certainly reaffirms that. 

Securing his services also means Palace have little need to invest in the goalkeeping department for the next few years, and with the price that some shot stoppers are demanding, it’s as smart a business decision as it is a footballing one.