Manchester United fans don’t need to be reminded of the erratic performances of past Old Trafford custodians such as Massimo Taibi, Mark Bosnich and Roy Carroll to realise how important it is for Sir Alex Ferguson to find the right candidate to replace Edwin van der Sar this summer.

Van der Sar, widely considered the best goalkeeper to have played for the club since legend Peter Schmeichel left at the end of the 1999 Treble winning season, will turn 40 in October and looks set to leave United at the end of this season when his contract expires. A goalkeeper is a priority for Ferguson who will not want a repeat of his tireless search to find the perfect replacement for the imposing Schmeichel before the Dutchman Van der Sar was brought to Old Trafford in 2005.

The great Dane’s initial successor was Australian Bosnich who signed on a free transfer from Aston Villa. However Bosnich was soon replaced by French World Cup winner Fabien Barthez who was signed in 2000 and remained the club’s number one for three seasons. Despite two Premier League crowns and an astounding first season at Old Trafford, Barthez’s eccentric behaviour and catalogue of easily avoidable mistakes left his manager and fans frustrated and he returned to his homeland in 2003.

American Tim Howard and Carroll then both competed for a starting position between the sticks before Van der Sar was finally brought in to add some much needed consistency behind the Red Devils back-four. The former Fulham favourite was a resounding success, immediately slotting into the United side with ease, helping them to three successive titles between 2007 and 2009. During his spell in Manchester, the veteran stopper has been named in the PFA Team if the Year twice, as well being crowned the Best European Goalkeeper and UEFA Goalkeeper of the Year in 2009.

Van der Sar will certainly be a difficult act to follow and there have already been several names tipped to takeover the goalkeeping jersey at the Theatre of Dreams. Russian ‘keeper Igor Akinfeev and Lyon’s Hugo Lloris have both been strongly linked with a move to England in the past, but Ferguson has yet to make a move for either of the two. While Shalke’s Manuel Neuer has insisted he will remain in the Bundesliga until his contract expires in 2012. However the main contender remains Holland international Maarten Stekelenburg who has reportedly received a glowing reference from compatriot Van der Sar to become United’s future first-choice No. 1.

Stekelenburg has already replaced his fellow countryman at international level and taken Van der Sar’s old number one spot at Ajax where he has now made over 200 appearances. The 27-year-old was arguably the best goalkeeper at the World Cup this summer as Holland reached their first final in over 30 years. United are keen on the Dutchman and Ferguson sent a scout to monitor him in his country’s 2-1 win over Finland last Tuesday, where he put in a man of the match performance.

Just as Chelsea’s ever-consistent Peter Cech highlights the need for a top-class goalkeeper, Arsenal’s heavily criticised Manuel Almunia shows exactly the same. United only have Tomasz Kuszczak and the inexperienced Ben Amos in reserve, with neither viewed as the long-term successor to the aging Van der Sar. Stekelenburg’s club Ajax are also struggling with debt and could be tempted to sell. The emergence of highly-rated youngster Kenneth Vermeer, currently progressing through the ranks at the Amsterdam Arena, would soften any blow delivered by Stekelenburg’s departure. United would not have a clear run on their target however with a host of Spanish sides and old foes The Gunners expressing an interest in signing Stekelenburg.

Stekelenburg is reportedly available for around £8m and Ferguson may even make his move in January for the highly-rated stopper. United fans will hope he can follow Van der Sar’s example and become an instant hit at Old Trafford should Fergie manage to pull off the transfer. A move could certainly be in the pipeline after a club insider revealed:

“There was interest in him, yes. But there was no official bid as Stekelenburg didn’t want to leave.

“What will happen in January? Who knows? You can never tell in football.”

So watch this space. Check out his top ten saves below-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZObhJU2Fsw

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