Manchester United's Next Goalkeeper: Edwin Van Der Sar's Successor One of Five
Whilst it’s not particularly smart to start looking too far ahead, considering Manchester United have at least 16 games left (and hopefully plenty more), Edwin van der Sar’s announcement gives them one really major headache to contemplate at the end of the season.
Edwin has been a superb servant and one of the best goalkeepers the club has ever had. I also feel that the timing of his announcement is fair, giving United plenty of time to sound out and select the best man to replace him.
Once you overlook the crazy calls for Gianluigi Buffon and Kasper Schmeichel, amongst others, the same five names keep coming up when the position is discussed. Which one is the best fit?
Pepe Reina
1 of 6Familiar to us all, Reina would be a popular choice, although he comes with the baggage of having played for Liverpool and is prone to mistakes.
Experience: Jose Reina was schooled at Barcelona and played 30 games for them as a teenager when both Victor Valdes and Richard Dutruel were injured, but, after showing promise, soon dropped back to Barcelona B.
It was his three years at Villareal thereafter which made him, winning him a move to Liverpool and a place in the Spain national setup. Rafa Benitez described him as the best goalkeeper in Spain when signing him in 2006.
Arriving a season too late to taste Champions League success, Reina has won only the FA Cup and Community Shield as a first choice, sitting on the bench throughout Spain’s successful Euro 2008 and World Cup 2010 campaigns.
Attributes: Reina is an immaculate distributor of the ball, possibly the best the Premier League has seen. He is also a top-class shot-stopper and commands the respect of his defense, if not opposing strikers.
However, questions have been raised about his handling of high balls and command of the area and he is prone to some serious howlers, as we saw at the start of the season when he threw the ball into his own net for Arsenal’s equalizer.
Availability: Jose Reina wants to win the trophies that Liverpool does and has made it clear to the club that they need to qualify for the Champions League to guarantee his loyalty. Should they fail, he has a £20m buyout clause in his contact and his resolve would be tested by any bid.
Rene Adler
2 of 6The trendy choice amongst United fans trying to look like European football connoisseurs, Adler is a big, capable goalkeeper with great potential.
Experience: Adler has spent his entire career playing for Bayer Leverkusen in Germany, but at the age of 26 has only won nine caps for the national team. Were it not for the tragic death of Robert Enke, he would have fewer.
Adler was voted the best goalkeeper in Germany in 2008, and sat opposite Reina on the bench when collecting a runners-up medal at the Euros. He has played well over 100 professional games.
Attributes: Bigger than Reina, he is also remarkably sharp and agile for a big man.
However, questions have been asked of his distribution and the general feeling is that Manuel Neuer has the edge over him in most departments.
Availability: Reportedly a childhood Red, Adler has a clause in his contract which allows him to leave to join Manchester United for a fee of €20m.
Rudi Voeller is the sporting director of Leverkusen and he has conceded that, should United make an approach meeting the clause, Adler would certainly leave.
Manuel Neuer
3 of 6Another German, Neuer is—along with David de Gea and Igor Akinfeev—the most sought-after young goalkeeper on the continent, meaning that he is not certain to join us and has a hefty price tag to boot.
Experience: The youngest keeper on the list, Neuer has nonetheless played more games for Germany and made more professional appearances than Adler.
He has represented his country at every level from U-18 upwards and was first choice at the World Cup last summer. He was on the squad when Schalke won their 2005 League Cup, but had yet to make his debut.
Attributes: At just over 6′4”, Neuer stands just an inch shy of the massive Edwin van der Sar. He is steady, rarely makes mistakes and cleans up in the air.
His kicking is huge and absolutely flawless, as he demonstrated in assisting Miroslav Klose for Germany’s first goal against England at the World Cup.
Despite his size, he also matches Adler in some of the finer attributes of the art, possessing great reflexes and agility.
Availability: Unlike the other two, there is no indication that Neuer is leaning towards a move to Manchester United, with most reports stating his preference for a move to Bayern Munich. Neuer himself says he is happy to stay at Schalke.
Schalke are of a similar stature to the Spurs in Germany and it is likely that his first big move will be his last, so if United miss out on him this time, there may be no second chance.
David De Gea
4 of 6Thrust into the limelight by injury, despite being the least experienced keeper on the list, De Gea has proven to be an immensely talented young shot-stopper and has set tongues wagging all across Europe.
Experience: De Gea made his debut for Atletico Madrid in September 2009 in the Champions League at 18 years old, in the absence of the injured duo Sergio Asenjo and Roberto. Three days later, he made his La Liga debut, saved a penalty and has not looked back.
He finished last season as first choice with a Europa League triumph and started this with a European Super Cup win. He has packed a lot into just over a year and Ferguson will need to be sure he is not just a flash in the pan like so many other young keepers.
Attributes: Massive, intimidating, dominant, confident, young and a superb shot-stopper, De Gea appears to have it all.
However, a lot will depend on whether he can maintain his excellent form until the summer, as a dose of second season syndrome could cost him his move.
Availability: It is reported that Ferguson has guaranteed Atletico Madrid that he will make a bid should Atletico decide to sell in the summer.
However, the price needed to tempt them into doing just that could rise towards £30m, given how highly regarded he is and how many other clubs are watching him.
Maarten Stekelenburg
5 of 6Stekelenburg is even bigger than van der Sar and his career has progressed steadily with Ajax. Until Reina suddenly became an option, he was the most experienced goalkeeper on the shortlist.
Experience: A one club man, Stekelenburg has been Ajax No. 1 since 2005 and has won one league title, three Dutch Cups and was first choice as Holland narrowly lost to Spain in this past summer's World Cup final.
He has also won more caps than any other goalkeeper on the list, being the Dutch No. 1 since Edwin van der Sar retired.
Attributes: Another huge goalkeeper, Stekelenburg is the most aerially dominant of the keepers here and also has a prodigious reach, which has seen him make some improbable saves. He is similar in style to Petr Cech.
However, he is prone to dips in form, such as the one which saw him lose his No. 1 jersey in 2008-09. History tells us that when Manchester United keepers dip in form, they are sold.
Availability: Stekelenburg would likely be the cheapest option available, unless Ajax play silly buggers with us. He may also be the first choice, as Edwin van der Sar has reportedly been consulted by Ferguson.
However, he would be the least exciting option and may signal a return to the bad years between Schmeichel and van der Sar when United seemed to be looking for a cheap option.
The Verdict
6 of 6
Currently, the best goalkeeper on this list is Jose Reina. However, apart from being a Liverpool player, he just doesn’t fit the model of a Manchester United goalkeeper and would be an expensive option.
Of the rest, the best option would be Manuel Neuer. His potential is superb and whilst David de Gea could prove to be a better goalkeeper in the long run, he could also turn out to be a huge bust for someone. It’s just too soon to take a gamble on such a keeper.
Neuer has been around long enough to show what he is capable of for the best part of the next 15 years. He is big, agile, commanding and wanted by other clubs, which is usually a good sign. We can’t go wrong with him.
Click here for a more in depth look at Jose Reina, or here to relive the nightmare of replacing Schmeichel, should you be brave enough.
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