Edwin van der Saar - £2million

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Fergie to sign Van der Sar

By PETER FITTON, Mail on Sunday 09:10am 5th June 2005 World Cup star Edwin van der Sar will be Manchester United's new goalkeeper for the start of the Premiership season in August - at the second time of asking. Sir Alex Ferguson has decided to return to the keeper he first tried to sign when Peter Schmeichel quit Old Trafford six years ago, only to be foiled by Juventus.

Since that fateful day Ferguson has committed millions in employing TEN first team goalkeepers at United without finding a genuine successor to the legendary Dane.

This weekend, intermediaries have been setting up a £2 million deal for Van der Sar, who only signed a contract extension with Fulham in January. His ambitions, however, are now firmly focused on United.

The Dutchman was on his way to Italy in 1999, just weeks after Schmeichel's farewell party, when he was ambushed by Ferguson in the departure lounge at Amsterdam airport.

He confirmed: "When he phoned me I really wanted to join United. But it was impossible at the time because I had already committed myself to Juventus."

Van der Sar played his 99th game for Holland in a World Cup qualifier against Romania in Rotterdam, with coach Marco van Basten echoing Ferguson's belief that his veteran is the right candidate for United.

"He is in the form of his life," said Van Basten.

At 34, Van der Sar is older even than skipper Roy Keane. But United, preparing for transfer discussions with reluctant sellers Fulham, believe he will solve a goalkeeping crisis and give them greater resolve in combating Chelsea's new dominance and the pressures of the Champions League.

Ferguson ditched his former No1 and Northern Ireland international, Roy Carroll, two weeks ago and occupied the winter months targeting at least five goalkeepers across Europe.

Schmeichel said: "When he signed Tim Howard, Sir Alex thought he had the one."

But the American proved error-prone and the hunt continued.



Anyonelse think he'd do for next two season for £2million?
 
Amir said:
Not the most exciting idea in the world - but it will do.
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I think your answer highlights the feelings of supporters at present.
 
But is his name exotic enough for the transfer forum cnus? ;)
 
Yeah, why not? At £2M a proven international GK is a good investment. Let's be realistic.... what does £2M buy you today? A half decent reserve midfielder? A promising youth player? I think £2M is cheap as chips for Edwin - maybe we could swap a pacy French midfileder for him??
 
Sultan said:
I think your answer highlights the feelings of supporters at present.
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Aye. After all, Juve ditched him after a season or two for a better player (Buffon) and the club he's been playing with since hasn't exactly set the world alight.

He's not a brilliant option, but then, there aren't many around at all.
 
Amir said:
He's not a brilliant option, but then, there aren't many around at all.
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Uuuhh, he maybe is getting a bit old, if not, to old, but he still is one of the best keepers in the world. I dont even feel the need to back up my statement up, its just the plain and simple truth.
 
Its a steal for 2 million. I'd be quite happy with Edwin starting and Howard learning from him.
 
I'd be happy with Van der Saar as a short-term option. I don't know why we didn't decide on this earlier this year. Because wouldn't he have been available on a free this summer? Looks like we'll have to plonk down £2m now. Still makes more sense than spending £10m on Paul Robinson, though.
 
soccerbest said:
He isn't the long-term solution.
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Maybe he isn't but should we wait 10 years until we get a long-term solution?
 
Red15 said:
I'd be happy with Van der Saar as a short-term option. I don't know why we didn't decide on this earlier this year. Because wouldn't he have been available on a free this summer? Looks like we'll have to plonk down £2m now. Still makes more sense than spending £10m on Paul Robinson, though.
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true,he is an experienced keeper and howard cud learn from him
 
Van the number one for Alex?
by Graeme Bailey - created on 5 Jun 2005


Edwin van dar Sar is reported to be once again at the top of Sir Alex Ferguson's goalkeeping wanted list following a glowing reference from Peter Schmeichel.

The Manchester United chief has struggled with his goalkeepers since the departure of Schmeichel in 1999 and he has now turned to the Dane for some advice.

Paul Robinson, Gianluigi Buffon, Antti Niemi and Shay Given have all been linked in recent weeks, and reports now claim Ferguson wants van der Sar - a man he tried to sign to replace Schmeichel six years ago.

Schmeichel is understood to have given his recommendations to Sir Alex which include van der Sar, as well as Brad Friedel and Rennes' Andreas Isaksson who are also said to have been put forward by the Dane as potential Old Trafford number ones.

"We have had a conversation about keepers," said Schmeichel.

"When he signed Tim Howard, Sir Alex thought he had the one.

"With United you are playing for a team that has possession all the time and creates a lot chances, it's difficult because most keepers like to be in the game."

Van der Sar, like Friedel, is 34 and he is reported to have been preferred to his Blackburn counterpart as he is in better condition physically and the American is happy with life at Ewood Park.

Isaksson, Petr Cech's replacement at Rennes, is rated by many as highly as the Czech who has starred at Chelsea - but Ferguson may not be willing to take a chance on the Swede who is ten years van der Sar's junior.

Van der Sar only signed a new two-year deal at Craven Cottage in January, but should The Red Devils come calling then the West London side are unlikely to stand in his way.
 
ehsanul said:
Are saving the money for a big transfer,or simply we dont have enough fund
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I don't think it is a money issue. Fergie seems to want him and he's cheap. We are supposed to have £25 mill aren't we.

Van Der Sar 2-3 mill
Park Ji Sung 3-4 mill
Which leaves us with about 18-20 to sign a cm and maybe a cd.
 
It would certainly steady the ship for a good price as well. He's still Holland #1 and will be going to the WC and has tons of experience of big pressure games.. we need a keeper like that.
 
We might get 4 or 5 seasons out of him, which would be ample time for Howard to learn from him and also give Utd enough time to decide if Howard is our future number 1.

Sensible when you think about it.
 
Ericisgod said:
We might get 4 or 5 seasons out of him, which would be ample time for Howard to learn from him and also give Utd enough time to decide if Howard is our future number 1.

Sensible when you think about it.
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He is 34 if I am not wrong. And I doubt you get 4/5 seasons out of him, at most maybe 2. At 34, he will only be a short term measure and he could well be past his best.

At 2 million, I would say Fulham will get the best deal.
 
Why spent a 2 million pound for a player who is at his end of his career, and i dont think utd will buy him its all paper talk,if that was the case then utd would have bought him at jan so i think fergie has another keeper in his mind
 
ehsanul said:
Why spent a 2 million pound for a player who is at his end of his career, and i dont think utd will buy him its all paper talk,if that was the case then utd would have bought him at jan so i think fergie has another keeper in his mind
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Spot on! And should United buy him then it only shows the club is in desperate mode.
 
being a keeper
34 is not a problem
he has epl and europe experience
in good shape
and a good learning model for t-ho
2million is definitely a steal
how say he is not a long term solution
but we need an immediate solution
we need to win the title next year, not 3 to 5 years later!
 
giggsyflying said:
being a keeper
34 is not a problem
he has epl and europe experience
in good shape
and a good learning model for t-ho
2million is definitely a steal
how say he is not a long term solution
but we need an immediate solution
we need to win the title next year, not 3 to 5 years later!
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34 is a problem in today's game. Your reflexes are not as fast as before... and injuries... you are more prone to it.
 
RedsForever said:
He is 34 if I am not wrong. And I doubt you get 4/5 seasons out of him, at most maybe 2. At 34, he will only be a short term measure and he could well be past his best.

At 2 million, I would say Fulham will get the best deal.
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If he plays one good season at United and they win the league, he will have been worth it. He'd better than Dudek and that's what we want: To be better than before.
 
The Wizard said:
If he plays one good season at United and they win the league, he will have been worth it. He'd better than Dudek and that's what we want: To be better than before.
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To win the league, you need more than to replace your keeper.

Van der Sar's age will be a factor. And he is not exactly setting Fulham alight for all the time he's been with them. For 2 million, Fulham will deliver him to United's doorstep in less than 30 minutes!

Come on! There are many promising keepers out there i.e. Frey is one. He is steady and improving. There is Robinson who is ever improving.
 
RedsForever said:
34 is a problem in today's game. Your reflexes are not as fast as before... and injuries... you are more prone to it.
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Fully agree,you tend to be lazy and you always get niggling injuries
 
RedsForever said:
To win the league, you need more than to replace your keeper.

Van der Sar's age will be a factor. And he is not exactly setting Fulham alight for all the time he's been with them. For 2 million, Fulham will deliver him to United's doorstep in less than 30 minutes!

Come on! There are many promising keepers out there i.e. Frey is one. He is steady and improving. There is Robinson who is ever improving.
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Could have signed Robinson for £2M last year and United didn't even sniff. He's overrated because he's English are reasonably young. "Promising" is not what we want. We have that already.

VdS is a much better 'keeper, been there done it all, and is much better than Robinson. He's Premier League ready, and most importantly he wants to sign. He's an improvement over Carroll and Howard, thus an improvement to the team. If it's for 2 or 3 seasons only, it's not an issue. There will be someone else ready to go by that stange...
 
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