Manchester United Target Neuer To Replace Van Der Sar
Manuel Neuer could have a long tenure between the posts at Manchester United if Sir Alex Ferguson has his way.
The Germany goalkeeper, currently playing for Schalke in the Bundesliga, was at the heart of the controversy surrounding Lampard's disallowed goal in the England-Germany game at the World Cup.
Van der Sar, currently United's number one choice in goal, will turn 40, later this month.
Manuel Neuer, 24, appears an ideal choice to replace the Dutchman.
Sir Alex plans to spend £10 mn to get the Schalke keeper to join his squad at Old Trafford; Neuer is in the last year of his contract with the Bundesliga side, and could cost Manchester United much more to get him to join them.
But Sir Alex is as undeterred by the prospect of having to pay more, or by the Lampard goal controversy in South Africa.
On that occasion, England were trailing 2-1, when Lampard's goal crossed the line, past Neuer, who got it back into play before the ball hit the net.
Both the referee and the linesman failed to 'see' the goal, and England went on to lose 4-1.
Observers felt that Neuer was complicit in the fraud, when Lampard's shot bounced beyond the line, after hitting the underside of the crossbar.
Neuer later confirmed that he knew it was a goal and that his continuing to play without any perceptible reaction had probably caused the referee to think the ball hadn't crossed.
Given his Champions League ambitions, Neuer may not continue with Schalke, after his contract expires, as the club have not been performing well, in the Bundesliga.
With Van der Sar making known his intention of retiring, this is an opportune moment for Sir Alex to sign Neuer, during the January transfer window.
Neuer has also indicated that he would prefer to play for Manchester United rather than Bayern Munich, the Bundesliga side that's reportedly interested in signing the 6'4 tall German keeper.
Neuer's confessed goalkeeping idol is Arsenal's Jens Lehmann, who played for the Gunners in the 1990's.
Neuer says he became a goalkeeper by accident when he arrived late for his first practice session and found that the only position remaining was between the posts.
Incidentally, Neuer was not Germany's first or even second choice goalkeeper at the World Cup.
He was elevated to the position of number one keeper owing to circumstances.
Germany's first choice keeper Robert Enke's suicide paved the way for second choice Rene Adler.
Adler in turn sustained a rib injury, and Neuer replaced him.
The Germany goalkeeper, currently playing for Schalke in the Bundesliga, was at the heart of the controversy surrounding Lampard's disallowed goal in the England-Germany game at the World Cup.
Van der Sar, currently United's number one choice in goal, will turn 40, later this month.
Manuel Neuer, 24, appears an ideal choice to replace the Dutchman.
Sir Alex plans to spend £10 mn to get the Schalke keeper to join his squad at Old Trafford; Neuer is in the last year of his contract with the Bundesliga side, and could cost Manchester United much more to get him to join them.
But Sir Alex is as undeterred by the prospect of having to pay more, or by the Lampard goal controversy in South Africa.
On that occasion, England were trailing 2-1, when Lampard's goal crossed the line, past Neuer, who got it back into play before the ball hit the net.
Both the referee and the linesman failed to 'see' the goal, and England went on to lose 4-1.
Observers felt that Neuer was complicit in the fraud, when Lampard's shot bounced beyond the line, after hitting the underside of the crossbar.
Neuer later confirmed that he knew it was a goal and that his continuing to play without any perceptible reaction had probably caused the referee to think the ball hadn't crossed.
Given his Champions League ambitions, Neuer may not continue with Schalke, after his contract expires, as the club have not been performing well, in the Bundesliga.
With Van der Sar making known his intention of retiring, this is an opportune moment for Sir Alex to sign Neuer, during the January transfer window.
Neuer has also indicated that he would prefer to play for Manchester United rather than Bayern Munich, the Bundesliga side that's reportedly interested in signing the 6'4 tall German keeper.
Neuer's confessed goalkeeping idol is Arsenal's Jens Lehmann, who played for the Gunners in the 1990's.
Neuer says he became a goalkeeper by accident when he arrived late for his first practice session and found that the only position remaining was between the posts.
Incidentally, Neuer was not Germany's first or even second choice goalkeeper at the World Cup.
He was elevated to the position of number one keeper owing to circumstances.
Germany's first choice keeper Robert Enke's suicide paved the way for second choice Rene Adler.
Adler in turn sustained a rib injury, and Neuer replaced him.
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