SOCCER:AMID THE euphoria over what Alex Ferguson described as "one of our best performances in Europe", there may have been one small regret as the Manchester United manager left the Veltins Arena.
Having seen his team outplay Schalke and win 2-0 in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final, Ferguson had also witnessed a superb goalkeeping display from Manuel Neuer, the 25-year-old Germany number one.
Neuer has decided to leave Schalke and would have been a natural replacement for Edwin van der Sar, who is retiring in the summer. The German, however, is set to join Bayern Munich.
United appear to have missed out on a gem in Neuer, who is displaying a remarkable maturity and has at least 10 years left in top-level football. As Ferguson knows, such goalkeepers are not readily available. When he tried to replace Peter Schmeichel in 1999, he opted for . . . Mark Bosnich.
So with Neuer Bayern-bound, which goalkeeper should Ferguson make his new number one?
Option 1 – Another Dutchman
Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax)
Age: 28 Caps: 39
The 6ft 6in Netherlands international was, according to United’s first-team coach Rene Meulensteen, “at the top of our wanted list” in January. A product of the Ajax academy, Stekelenburg has twice been van der Sar’s long-term replacement with distinction – once at Ajax and then for the Netherlands after Van der Sar retired in 2008.
His performances at last summer’s World Cup in South Africa, with only six goals conceded and a strong display in the final, attracted widespread attention. Arsenal have been linked with the Dutchman, who has a contract until 2012.
They say: “Juventus is a big club but van der Sar, a decade ago, failed there. Stylistically van der Sar is comparable to Stekelenburg. Therefore he should reject Juve. Manchester United seems to me a nicer club for him.” – Former Netherlands and Ajax goalkeeper Stanley Menzo in April 2011
Option 2 – The gamble
David de Gea (Atletico Madrid)
Age: 20 Caps: 0
A tall, athletic goalkeeper who is seen as a natural successor to Iker Casillas when the Real Madrid goalkeeper, 30 next month, retires from international football. Made his name in 2007, when Spain beat Belgium on penalties to reach the Under-17 European Championship final, and made his Champions League and La Liga debut within a week in 2009.
He won the Europa League with Atletico as a 19-year-old last season and has continued to improve. Has few weaknesses and United have reportedly made the Spaniard their number one target. Atletico are trying to tie him down to a new contract (he has three years left), but may be forced to sell. De Gea is likely to cost in the region of €22 million.
They say: “This boy is as cold as a wolf. He has composure, nerve and self-confidence. The pressures that others might feel don’t affect him.” – Atletico’s youth-team goalkeeping coach, Angel Mejias, in March 2010
Option 3 – The exotic choice
Fernando Muslera (Lazio)
Age: 24 Caps: 14
Had an outstanding World Cup for Uruguay, keeping a clean sheet in all three group games and saving two penalties as Ghana were knocked out in the quarter-finals. Muslera had a troublesome start at Lazio, whom he joined in 2007, when questions were raised over the legality of his passport, and he was also dropped in favour of a 44-year-old (Marco Ballotta). But the Uruguayan has been the club’s number one goalkeeper since January 2009 and was man of the match as Lazio won the Italian Cup on penalties in that year.
He conceded a mere 48 goals in 42 games in the 2009-10 season and experienced Europa League football with Lazio. Muslera has only one year left on his contract.
They say: “Everything was agreed about the new contract and then suddenly the boy and his agent wanted to change something. But we are still hopeful of reaching an agreement.” – Lazio president Claudio Lotito this month
Option 4 – A safe pair of hands
Jose Reina (Liverpool)
Age: 28 Caps: 21
He may have come out this week to say he is happy at Anfield but he has hinted on several occasions this season he is prepared to move. “What a player wants, logically, is to challenge for titles,” he told a Spanish radio station in February. The Spaniard has been playing in England since 2005 and would, in contrast to other contenders, not need time to adapt.
It is uncertain, however, if he would be prepared to risk the ire of Liverpool fans by moving to their most bitter rivals. A buyout clause of €25 million could be a stumbling block.
They say: “I have always believed Pepe is one of the best in the Premier League. Whatever he feels about us going in the right direction or not is up to him. But at this moment he doesn’t look too unhappy to me.” – Kenny Dalglish this month
Option 5 – The calculated risk
Hugo Lloris (Olympique Lyon)
Age: 24 Caps: 22
Has been regarded as one of Europe’s finest for years and is approaching an age where he is looking for a new challenge. He has a contract until 2013 but Lyon may need to sell if they miss out on Champions League football. Ferguson may be concerned, however, by his intermittent troubles with crosses, a deficiency not ideal when playing in England, and the Frenchman made a howler against South Africa at the World Cup.
They say: “Lloris was superb. Keeping a clean sheet against Brazil is never easy. His performance against the Brazilians was reward for all the hard work he has done in the past six months. Outstanding.” – France coach Laurent Blanc in February 2011.
Or, failing all that, United could always try to get Edwin van der Sar, still one of the world’s best, to reconsider his decision to retire.
