[size=12pt]Manchester United set to move for goalkeeper David de Gea to replace Edwin van der Sar[/size]
Manchester United are poised to launch their summer spending by completing an £18.3million move for Atletico Madrid goalkeeper David de Gea after Saturday’s Champions League final against Barcelona.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed at the weekend that the club were “in the middle of concluding a deal for a new keeper†to replace Edwin van der Sar, who will retire at the end of this season.
And Spain Under-21 international David De Gea, 20, is understood to have informed Atletico that he is ready to leave for United after being scouted by the Old Trafford club for the past nine months.
Ferguson and goalkeeping coach Eric Steele watched De Gea in action against Valencia in September, but with first choice Manuel Neuer opting to leave Schalke for Bayern Munich and doubts over the suitability of another leading target, Ajax keeper Maarten Stekelenburg, Ferguson has now chosen sign the inexperienced De Gea.
Despite his youth, however, De Gea is rated as a rising star in world football and the most likely successor to Real Madrid’s Iker Casillas in the Spain team.
With Polish keeper Tomasz Kuszczak set to leave United this summer, Ferguson has already secured the services of Denmark No?1 Anders Lindegaard as back-up next season.
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But despite Ferguson’s repeated insistence that goalkeepers do not reach their potential until their late twenties, the United manager has chosen De Gea because he believes the youngster can establish himself as Old Trafford’s first choice for the next decade and beyond.
Ferguson has admitted to making a mistake by failing to sign Van der Sar immediately as Peter Schmeichel’s successor in 1999, with United instead signing Mark Bosnich on a free transfer.
United have spent more than a year preparing for Van der Sar’s departure, however, and after Neuer chose to stay in Germany, Ferguson believes that De Gea’s arrival will avoid the mistake made 12 years ago in the wake of Schmeichel’s exit.
Manchester United are poised to launch their summer spending by completing an £18.3million move for Atletico Madrid goalkeeper David de Gea after Saturday’s Champions League final against Barcelona.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed at the weekend that the club were “in the middle of concluding a deal for a new keeper†to replace Edwin van der Sar, who will retire at the end of this season.
And Spain Under-21 international David De Gea, 20, is understood to have informed Atletico that he is ready to leave for United after being scouted by the Old Trafford club for the past nine months.
Ferguson and goalkeeping coach Eric Steele watched De Gea in action against Valencia in September, but with first choice Manuel Neuer opting to leave Schalke for Bayern Munich and doubts over the suitability of another leading target, Ajax keeper Maarten Stekelenburg, Ferguson has now chosen sign the inexperienced De Gea.
Despite his youth, however, De Gea is rated as a rising star in world football and the most likely successor to Real Madrid’s Iker Casillas in the Spain team.
With Polish keeper Tomasz Kuszczak set to leave United this summer, Ferguson has already secured the services of Denmark No?1 Anders Lindegaard as back-up next season.
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But despite Ferguson’s repeated insistence that goalkeepers do not reach their potential until their late twenties, the United manager has chosen De Gea because he believes the youngster can establish himself as Old Trafford’s first choice for the next decade and beyond.
Ferguson has admitted to making a mistake by failing to sign Van der Sar immediately as Peter Schmeichel’s successor in 1999, with United instead signing Mark Bosnich on a free transfer.
United have spent more than a year preparing for Van der Sar’s departure, however, and after Neuer chose to stay in Germany, Ferguson believes that De Gea’s arrival will avoid the mistake made 12 years ago in the wake of Schmeichel’s exit.