Manchester United Transfers: 4 Goalkeepers to Replace David De Gea

This past December 31st was a birthday Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson would sooner forget.

Because of goalkeeper David De Gea's haphazard hands that allowed three goals from a pitiful Blackburn team, Ferguson's 70th birthday was the worst of his 25 years at Old Trafford.

It was a game that could have put the Red Devils on top of Manchester City by three points. Those three points would have kept them there due to City's massive loss to Sunderland on January 1st.

Instead, it was a game that kept United at arm's length with City and proved that De Gea is not up to the task of fending off even the most inferior of opponents.

If the young Spaniard is kept in at goal, it's only a matter of time before Tottenham and Arsenal catch up in the league table.

Manchester United fans deserve a better keeper than what De Gea is showing at the moment, and with the winter transfer window upon us, there's no better time than the present to find a suitable veteran replacement.

That said, I give you some of the best options on the market for Ferguson to fix his goalkeeper problems.

Michel Vorm, Swansea City

When you're the most valuable player on your team and you're the goalkeeper, you know you're doing something right.

Such is the case with Michel Vorm of Swansea City. The 28-year-old was bought from FC Utrecht when Swans earned promotion into the Premier League last summer and has cemented his place as one of the best goalkeepers in the top flight of English soccer.

Vorm's quick, agile and has allowed only 23 goals in 19 appearances—a 1.21 goals against average. He's also averaging 3.8 saves per game.

He's got a league-leading eight clean sheets through the first half of the season and would be a steal for Manchester United going into the spring.

Marc-André Ter Stegen, Borussia Mönchengladbach

Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund may get a lot of the publicity out of the Bundesliga, but there's another club gaining ground against the German giants that hasn't challenged for the league title in some time.

It may surprise you to know that Borussia Mönchengladbach has conceded only 11 goals through 17 matches—second only to Bayern Munich's 10.

Borussia Mönchengladbach has a physical back line of defenders led by Bonfim "Dante" Costa, but 19-year-old Marc-André Ter Stegen is a wonderkid in front of goal. His seven clean sheets and 0.69 goals-against average is second only to Bayern Munich's Manuel Neuer.

Sven Ulreich, VfB Stuttgart

Quick, name the team with the goalkeeper that has made the most saves in Germany's Bundesliga this season.

It's not Champions League favorites Bayern Munich. It's not reigning champions Borussia Dortmund. And it's not Borussia Mönchengladbach, a team ascending the league table faster than you can say, "Gesundheit!"

It's VfB Stuttgart, a club that has had a rocky couple of years (they finished in 12th place last season) and hasn't qualified for a Champions League spot since 2009. 

The club still hasn't gotten back to its championship form since winning the league title in 2007, and now would be as good a time as any to poach its prized goalkeeper Sven Ulreich who has four clean sheets (tied for fourth-best in Germany) and has earned a 1.18 goals against average (also fourth-best in Germany).

Carlos Kameni, Espanyol

With Espanyol looking to unload some of its high-priced players, Kameni may be a steal. He's currently on the bench, but the 27-year-old has been a solid keeper for some time.

Espanyol may consistently finish only in the middle of the La Liga table when Kameni is in front of goal, but that's not because of the Cameroonian's lack of skill, rather the club's lack of offense.