Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson has wasted no time in identifying Edwin Van der Sar’s successor by lining up a summer swoop for Schalke and Germany’s number one, Manuel Neuer.
Ferguson is thought to have made a three man short-list for the vacancy in May, with Ajax’s Maarten Stekelenburg and Athletico Madrid’s David De Gea joining Neuer in the running.
However many believe that Neuer, who has been linked with United in recent weeks, tops their goalkeeping wish-list. Neuer is approaching his 25th birthday which means that he would be one for both the present and the future should he move to Old Trafford at the end of the season.
Neuer, who has been an ever present for Schalke so far this year, made his name with some fine performances in Germany’s run to the 2010 World Cup third place play-off.
Manchester United fans will have bad memories of the amount of time, and money spent, that it took to replace Peter Schmeichel, so Ferguson will be under pressure to get it right first time.
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