Going Dutch: Stekelenburg is top of United
wishlist
Maarten Stekelenburg is Manchester United's first choice
to replace his fellow Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar at Old
Trafford.
Van der Sar, who turned 40 in October, confirmed this week he
will quit at the end of the season after six years at United.
And Rene Meulensteen, United's first team coach, revealed Sir
Alex Ferguson has chosen £10million-rated Stekelenburg, 28, ahead
of Manuel Neuer, of Schalke, and Atletico Madrid's David de Gea
after asking Van der Sar for his opinion on the 6ft 5in Ajax
keeper.
'Stekelenburg is the keeper who is at the top of our wanted
list,' Muelensteen told Dutch magazine Voetbal International. 'We
talk a lot among ourselves about who should replace Van der Sar.
Alex Ferguson has spoken about Stekelenburg with Edwin.'
Van der Sar will sit out today's FA Cup fourth-round tie at
Southampton, leaving Ferguson to choose between recalling Tomasz
Kuszczak or giving a debut to Anders Lindegaard.
But Lindegaard has been signed as a back-up keeper and Kuszczak
will leave Old Trafford this summer. It is even possible Ferguson
could sign a third keeper after assistant boss Mike Phelan
confirmed United's interest in Rui Patricio, the 22-year-old from
Sporting Lisbon.
'We've known Rui Patricio for a long time,' said Phelan. 'He's a
young keeper with enormous potential.'
Ferguson paid tribute to Van der Sar yesterday, saying: 'When
you get to the age of 40 and you're still playing top-level
football, you know you're going to hit the wall sometime. All Edwin
is doing is making sure he doesn't hit the wall while he's at
United. If I was in his shoes, going out at the very top would be
the thing to do.'
Thirty-something: Rejuvenated Dimitar Berbatov
Meanwhile, Ferguson has indicated that United will open
negotiations over a new deal for Dimitar Berbatov, whose
£100,000-a-week contract runs out in 18 months.
The Bulgaria striker is finally producing the form United hoped
he would when he signed from Tottenham for £30.75m two-and-a-half
years ago.
Berbatov already has 20 goals this season and Ferguson believes
the player's birthday tomorrow will not be his only 30th
celebration of the season.
'He's playing with great confidence and could easily get to the
30-goal mark,' said the United boss.'
Ferguson will take a 'strong' squad to St Mary's as he looks to
avoid a repeat of United's only defeat this season - a 4-0 Carling
Cup loss at West Ham, where the manager felt his fringe players let
him down. He will be without full backs Patrice Evra and
Rafael.
