Filed under: Blackpool, Chelsea, Everton, Fulham, Manchester United, Tottenham, Champions League, Premier League, Football, Transfer News
Manchester United fans will no doubt be reassured by news that Sir Alex Ferguson is about to replace the soon-to-be-retired Edwin van der Sar with a man widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world in the shape of David de Gea of Atletico Madrid.Indeed, so similar is his shape to the Dutchman that he already been given the nickname Van der Gea by his current team-mates.
But put the prospective deal, which sources in Spain insist is far nearer completion than the selling club are currently admitting, another way and it sounds a bit of a gamble: United will be replacing one of the most experienced and trustworthy custodians with a player exactly half his age. Who has a career total of 74 games under his belt.
Ferguson has not always found it easy to recruit a goalkeeper good enough to cope with the club's relentless ambitions; for every Peter Schmeichel there has been a Massimo Taibi.
And de Gea, who does not turn 21 until November, will come with a price tag bigger than his age as Atletico insist United must trigger a release clause of 25 million Euros to make him an Old Trafford player (intriguingly, Atletico's chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin also claims Chelsea have made an offer. What does that say about their trust in Petr Cech I wonder?).
But there is no doubting that the player has made remarkably rapid progress in his short career so far.
He was 18 when his debut was unexpectedly thrust upon him in September 2009, when he came on for the injured Roberto in a Champions League clash with Porto. His La Liga debut followed just three days later and saw him give away a penalty - and then saved it.
And he is already the holder of two winner's medals having helped Atletico beat Fulham in last season's Europa League final and then get the better of Champions League holders Inter Milan to lift the Super Cup.
In any case, it seems clear that Ferguson has already decided this is to be the summer of the youth injection. Ryan Giggs may be defying the ageing process but Gary Neville has already begun a career in television punditry and it would be no surprise if Paul Scholes hung up his boots soon as well.
Everton's Jack Rodwell, Luka Modric of Tottenham, Inter Milan's Netherlands international Wesley Sneijder and Blackpool captain Charlie Adam have all been linked with United - and all have plenty more left in their respective tanks.
It will be costly but United's reboot appears to be about to happen, with de Gea leading the way.
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Source: http://www.fanhouse.co.uk/2011/04/13/premier-league-transfer-manchester-united-david-de-gea/
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