United interest: McGregor is a target for fellow
Scot Sir Alex Ferguson
Manchester United have stepped up their interest in
Allan McGregor after chief scout Martin Ferguson watched the
Rangers No1 in action in Valencia this week, Sportsmail can reveal.
The Premiership giants have been scouring Europe for two
goalkeepers, with Aalesunds’ Anders Lindegaard, Atletico Madrid’s
David de Gea, Bayer Leverkusen’s Rene Adler and Manuel Neuer of
Schalke all coming under scrutiny.
However, there has now been contact between Old Trafford and
Ibrox following the 28-year-old’s superb performances for both club
and country this season, most memorably in the Euro 2012 qualifier
against Spain, which Ferguson also attended.
With Rangers yesterday finalising a new deal to keep Ibrox
understudy Neil Alexander until 2013, the path is clear for
McGregor to head south should they receive an irresistible offer,
albeit they would prefer to extend his contract beyond the three
years that currently remain on it.
McGregor, who will face his suitors when United travel to Ibrox
on Champions League duty on November 24, has already ousted Craig
Gordon as Scotland No 1 after returning from the international
wilderness following the Boozegate affair - and Sir Alex Ferguson
sees him as a potential successor to 40-year-old Edwin van der
Sar.
Although United will be concerned that McGregor’s often troubled
private life has seen him become tabloid fodder in Scotland, his
displays have become impossible to ignore.
Now that Alexander has committed himself to the club, Rangers
will hope that Kenny Miller and Sasa Papac - both free agents at
the end of this season - follow suit.
‘I am absolutely delighted that we have now got it all signed
and sealed and we can concentrate on the football,’ said
32-year-old Alexander. ‘I’ve always said that I am happy at
Rangers. As a young boy growing up, you look at Rangers as one of
the top clubs in the world. I have worked my whole career to get to
a club like Rangers, so why would I leave?’