Sir Alex Ferguson is in the
market for a new No 1 after 40-year-old Edwin van der Sar refused
to perform a U-turn on his summer retirement plans.
And Fergie has now set his
sights on Portuguese star Patricio after missing out on a host of
other targets.
First-choice Manuel Neuer has
snubbed the Premier League leaders for Bayern Munich after
announcing his intention to quit United’s Champions League
semi-final opponents Schalke this summer.
Atletico Madrid shot-stopper
David De Gea has made it clear he is reluctant to leave Spain, even
though United were willing to meet the £18m asking price for the
20-year-old.
United have told the Portuguese
club that they only rate Patricio at around £6million.
SOURCE: Daily Mirror
Rui Patricio is one of the most consistent performers in Europe
but is still a relative unknown outside his native Portugal and it
appears that Sir Alex Ferguson is planning a move for the Sporting
Lisbon man mainly because his three main targets appear reticent to
leave their respective clubs.
Sir Alex Ferguson appeared very keen on Atletico Madrid keeper
David De Gea, Schalke and Germany custodian Manuel Neuer and
Liverpool goalie Pepe Reina but all three appear to be staying put
rather than looking to replace Edwin Van der Sar at Old
Trafford.
The Man United boss seems unlikely to promote long term
understudy Tomasz Kuszczak and new signing Anders Lindegaard to be
a back up and a move for Rui Patricio may well be a sensible, if
unspectacular, one. Despite Sporting Lisbon falling out of the
title race they are still considered one of the best teams
defensively speaking and that has a lot to do with the 24 year old
who has racked up over 150 appearances for the club.
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