Manchester United have decided they want David de Gea to replace Edwin van der Sar as their
first choice goalkeeper.

The move for a 20-year-old will be seen as a huge gamble, but United scouts and coaching staff are convinced the Atletico Madrid star can handle the responsibility.

Sir Alex Ferguson has watched De Gea extensively over the past year and hopes a £15million deal can be finalised quickly, and goalkeeping coach Eric Steele is laying the groundwork for his arrival by taking Spanish lessons.

Van der Sar, 40, reiterated his intention to quit at the end of this season after starring in the FA Cup win over Arsenal on Saturday, but United hope the multi-lingual Dutchman will take up a coaching role and help smooth the transition for his successor and new No 2 Anders Lindegaard.

United have studied various candidates to replace Van der Sar, with Schalke's Manuel Neuer, Julio Cesar of Inter Milan and Ajax keeper Maarten Stekelenburg all coming under consideration. However, De Gea has similar - if not better - qualities plus age on his side. At 6ft 3½in he is very much part of
Spain coach Vicente del Bosque's plans, despite the presence of Iker Casillas and Liverpool's Pepe Reina.

Van der Sar, 40, reiterated his intention to quit at the end of this season after starring in the FA Cup win over Arsenal on Saturday, but United hope the multi-lingual Dutchman will take up a coaching role and help smooth the transition for his successor and new No 2 Anders Lindegaard.

United have studied various candidates to replace Van der Sar, with Schalke's Manuel Neuer, Julio Cesar of Inter Milan and Ajax keeper Maarten Stekelenburg all coming under consideration. However, De Gea has similar - if not better - qualities plus ageDespite a rather unconventional attempt by Wayne Rooney to persuade him to reconsider, the Dutchman is adamant this season will be his last.

'I was just speaking to him in the shower,' said Rooney, who headed United's second after Fabio da Silva had scored in the first half.

'The players are trying to persuade him to stay on but it's his decision. Despite his age, he's still the best keeper in the world.'

Although Van der Sar can look back on a glittering career, the FA Cup is a notable omission from his cv.

He said: 'Of course an FA Cup winner's medal means a lot, despite what I have won. I've played one final and lost a semifinal. It has got away all the time, so hopefully this can be the one.

'It will be nice to finish at my peak. I don't hate retirement - I'm looking forward to it. Everybody doubts themselves. Every writer doubts himself, every artist doubts himself and every footballer does. That is what certain players thrive on.'

Ferguson's team selection, with the Da Silva twins and Rooney starting in midfield, underlined the injury problems at Old Trafford as well as the manager's priorities.

Even after defeats by Chelsea and Liverpool, Ferguson refused to jeopardise his Champions League chances by risking Ryan Giggs or Paul Scholes from the start. Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher are doubtful to face Marseille, with Nani, Rio Ferdinand, Anderson and Michael Owen all out.

Park Ji-sung could return but United's problems in midfield were not helped by a late cameo appearance from Scholes.

He picked up his 10th booking of the season and will miss the next two matches at home to FA Cup semi-finalists Bolton and away to West Ham.

Most of our young keeper unable to shine at OT… only when they been loan or sold to other club … hmm.. too bad…  dont put too much hot on young keeper..~~

Still favor the mature ( old ) keeper like van der sar..

it's rare for me to do this but, here goes nothing. i think he is lonely too. his comment often biased towards us. i'm sure most of us disagree with what Rafael did and Nani reaction but he, totally shoot only Man Utd fault, Man Utd to blame etc etc. he wasn't even tried to look at other clubs stats. i can understand with some fans hatred towards us but his post and comments always annoying. he's like, inviting us for a debate.

p.s on the rubbish stuff of nani going to serie a, its down right stupid.

serie a is on the down now and next year their slot for europe is getting slashed even more...so unless nani is similarly stupid as the press wch printed the news he wont head there.now as ofr la liga i doubt the only 2 clubs playing in that dull league wants him.

still cannont, new seria A rules stipulates that a player must be above the age of 35 to join any italian sides.

they wanna keep their "retirement home" theme.

i think RVP 4got to mention Arsenal when he said Chelsea and Barca are always complaining 

Manchester United winger Nani has revealed he is playing within his abilities because manager Sir Alex Ferguson restricts his "freedom" on the pitch.

Portuguese trickster Nani has been, perhaps unfairly, living in the shadow of former United star Cristiano Ronaldo during his time at Old Trafford, but this season he has gone some way to filling his countryman's boots by translating his undoubted ability into goals and assists.

But Nani said he has sacrificed some of his personal joy for the game and put a limit on the amount of tricks he executes on the pitch in the pursuit of increased effectiveness.

"I try to enjoy playing now, but it is not always possible because I have a responsibility to the team," Nani told Spain's Don Balón.

"But something of the street remains in me. It is not easy to show at United because Sir Alex does not allow very much freedom and I cannot do the tricks and things I did with my friends."

Nani presumably refers to the sort of expressive wing play that could humiliate opponents but risks giving the ball away. He hinted that Ferguson is more relaxed about his star winger trying the spectacular against weaker opposition when United have the lion's share of possession.

"When the game is under control I take a risk and it makes me very happy if things work out."

got so much different between a CM and AM ?

haha, thats why scholes get so many yellow cards ....

but to be frank ... nowadays the position is just theory ...

on the real pitch, depend the match progress and opponent weakness, it tends to be changed through up the match ...

lol ... well although his tackling is scary, he at least tracks back and knows how to position himself.

bringing in an experienced player (obviously not 35yo experience la) i can only see that happen if:

1. it is a position/player type we direly need or direct replacement to one of the retiring players (that means either Scholes or Giggs in the near future, or maybe one of the defenders in a more further futureand this also in the very bad case of our potential young replacements fail miserably)

2. already proven his talent preferably in the BPL, and

3. someone who SAF thinks will pledge allegiance to United as long as he is needed (aka not a mercenary).

The last person who i know fits the criteria above is VDS. I mean if he doesnt fit all the criterias above, especially no2...buying a 34yo goalie is like....meh.

Other than that, please dont expect SAF to buy Ozil/Sneijder/Schweinsteiger etc etc just for cuba2.

I dont think Sneijder will be cheap... but Charlie Adam can prove to be a good buy for 14 million pounds.. If there should be a sure top target player for next season, it must be Luka Modric. This guy can just make any team tick... Cmon Harry, give your pal a hand will ya... You can have Carrick as we know you love him

we got anderson so modric is redundant

we got gibson so c.adam is redundant(yes i know why some of u guys whine when gibson play.i personally whine whenever i see evans play)

we got nani so ashley YOUNG is redundant(although signing one particular Welsh wingback would be a very,very welcome decision from the scot)

we are in dire need of a creative midfielder and an DM.one who can open the game and one who can close the game.if we can spend 40 mil quid on one player,spending 40 mil quid on 2 wouldn't be that much of a fuss.grab them Sahin and Bender and leave the piles o' quid in front of jurgens klopp and voila

We should buy:

Messi - because he is god-like, dump Anderson and retire Scholes and Carrick.
Neymar - because he is bad-ass.
Ceni - Because he can freekick and score better than Rooney put him up front once in a while.
Charlie Adam - Because everyone wants him (kiasu a bit la kamon)
Schweinsteiger & Bale - Fuuuu. I can't imagine if they're in United. Probably can win quadruple each season.

There, confirm can win quadruple.

Players that need to be sold/retired:

Carrick - lemau
Scholes - tua
Giggs - tua
Valencia - low class
Park - always injureed and he's asian vroom vroom
Ferdinand - Tua and always injured
Nani - tak bagus macam bale
Berbatov - tak terer
Rooney

So our new first teamer will be:

Ceni

Fabio/Rafael - Smalling - Vidic - Evra

Schweinsteiger - Messi - Adam - Bale

Chicharito - Neymar.

FUUUUUUUU!!!

Manchester United have held talks over the signing of Atletico Madrid goalkeeper David de Gea, according to the player's agent.

United's current No. 1, Edwin van der Sar, will retire at the end of the season and De Gea is one of the star names pencilled in to replace the out-going Dutchman.

De Gea, 20, has established himself as the first-choice goalkeeper at Atletico ahead of Sergio Asenjo since breaking into the first team in 2009 and has been watched by United goalkeeping coach Eric Steele on numerous occasions. Sir Alex Ferguson also saw De Gea in action when Atletico played Valencia in September last year.

With reports circulating that United have made a £17.5 million offer for the Spain U-21 international, his agent, Hector Rincon, revealed that the Premier League leaders have been in contact and that their offer would meet De Gea's release clause.

"Well, we did have talks with Manchester United but, first of all, they always look for an agreement with the club," Hector Rincon told sport.co.uk. "Anyway, most of the biggest European teams have shown interest in David de Gea."

Asked if Atletico would be willing to part with their highly-rated goalkeeper, Rincon said: "You would have to ask the club. What I can tell you is that his release clause now is €20 million, but I have no idea if the club would sell him for less.

"Right now, the player has a contract with Atletico Madrid and if Manchester United or any other team want him they will have to reach an agreement or pay the whole release clause."

Rincon also reiterated - as he told ESPNsoccernet last year - that Wigan Athletic once made an offer for De Gea and that recently all the top clubs in England have shown an interest.

"Well, some time ago, before he became an important player in Atletico, Wigan made an offer, but the club rejected it," the agent said. "Recently, I don't want to say any names but all the big clubs in England and in Europe have asked about him."