Man Utd and Arsenal set to battle it out for Dutch international goalie Maarten Stekelenburg
Arsenal’s goal keeping woes are common knowledge to all and sundry and you don’t have to have a keen eye for football to understand why they are in desperate need of an established goalkeeper. Although the situation is not as dire
at Manchester United, United also need a replacement for Edwin Der Sar who at the age of 40 is getting ever so closer to hanging up his gloves.
It’s not only Edwin who is nearing retirement age but also the whole of golden generation is living its last hurrah at United. Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs are all in their twilight years and Sir Alex needs to replace
them all.
Although that said, Manchester United do have cover for Giggs and Scholes in the midfield as Anderson, Carrick and Darron Gibson are more than capable of playing in the midfield but they still need some nurturing.
Same is the case at right back where Rafael Da Silva is a sublime talent but still needs to learn a few tricks in the game but when it comes to goal keeping United have absolutely no cover for the dynamic Dutchman.
United sold Ben Foster to Birmingham in the summer for 6 million pounds and that only leaves Thomas Kuszczak and Ben Amos in the squad as the possible replacements for VDS.
But at least VDS is still one of the best keepers in the game and he still puts in good shifts for United, and although United have no immediate concerns within a season or two they will need a proper replacement as both Amos and
Kuszczak have failed to impress Ferguson.
The situation at Arsenal is much worse as both Fabianski and Almunia have failed to establish themselves in the squad and have made some high profile blunders in the League and Champions League that cost Arsenal dear.
In the past both of these teams have been linked with various goal keepers with United expressing interest in David De Gea of Atletico Madrid and Manuel Neuer of Schalke while Asenal courted Fulham’s Australian shot stopper Mark
Schwarzer and also chased Manuel Neuer.
And now it has emerged that both the Premier League giants are set to lock horns off the pitch as they try to lure Ajax’s Martin Stekelenburg.
The Dutch side is braced for a January bidding war between the Red Devils and the Gunners for the signature of Stekelenburg - whose reputation has sky rocketed since his impressive performances at this summer’s extravaganza helped
his side reach the final of the World Cup where they lost to Spain.
Both the Premier League giants have been chasing the six foot six goalie in recent weeks and are all set to battle it out in the January transfer window.
It is expected that the bidding war will start at 9 million pounds as Ajax are not willing to let go of their prized asset on the cheap.
The 28 year old hot shot was watched by United and Arsenal scouts as he took his position between the posts for the friendly and again when Ajax played against AC Milan in the Champions League last week.
Neither of the clubs has officially launched a bid for the Dutchman, who has spent his entire playing career at the Amsterdam Arena playing for Ajax.
It is understood that Ajax will not be standing in Stekelenburg’s way if the Dutchman decides to make a move at this stage in his career.
It is believed that Stekelenburg was recommended by VDS to Sir Alex while Wenger has been searching all around the globe to solve the goal keeping crisis at the Emirates.
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