Manchester United's next #1: De Gea or Lindegaard?

With some key players retiring, and a hoard of players (allegedly) coming in and on their way out of Manchester United, one thing is for certain. Sir Alex is building a team again. And like any football coach would tell you day in and day out, a team’s solidity, altogether and in the backline, is hugely dependent on the goalkeeper. The retiring flying dutchman, Edwin Van Der Sar will leave a huge gap to fill for his successor. In fact, the expectation from the next number One is so huge that decent goalkeepers like Ben Foster and Tomasz Kuszczak have already wilted under it. While Ben Foster secured a move to Birmingham last year, it seems likely that Tomasz will be moving this summer too. West Brom seem interested in him, and in any case, his future seems destined far away from Old Trafford. This leads us to a nagging yet important question. Who will be Manchester United’s next No.1?

He will be missed.

Reports from all over the Spanish and English media say that Sir Alex has set his sights on the Athletico Madrid keeper David De Gea on replacing VDS under the Crossbar next season. The Spaniard was expected to be househunting in Manchester later this week and a move to Old Trafford seems imminent. Yet, will it also come with a regular starting place? Not if a certain Anders Lindegaard has something to say. He has already made two FA cup appearances and been a regular reserve feature at Old Trafford, but he is expected to make a move for the first team soon enough. Here’s a look at both the young goalkeepers, and what’s expected of them.

Anders Lindegaard:Born in 1984, and a Danish international, he isn’t a stranger to pressure, Anders. He was voted the best goalkeeper both in Denmark and Norway before his move to the Red half of Manchester. During his switch to Old Trafford from Aalesund, many, including Premier League legend, Peter Schmeichel said that the Goalkeeper was not ready to step into the Premier League. A year has passed, and he has performed quite well for the reserves and second string sides. From outside, it seems likely that the twenty-seven year old is ready to put on the gloves in the Red Devil’s goal. Rest is up to the wily old master, Sir Alex. Only time can tell.

Is it his time, now?

David De Gea:The twenty year old needs no introduction, as clubs all over the world seem to be interested in him. It seems most likely that he will come to Manchester United though and will be pressing for a first team place. He’s had a fantastic season in a attack-happy Spanish league, and is tipped to be the next generation’s numero uno for his national side. In forty five games, this season he has kept twenty four clean sheets which speaks a lot of his ability as a goalkeeper. A fifteen million pound deal is being readied up at Manchester United for the shot-stopper and soon enough, he might just be the one donning the new Manchester United Number jersey. Whether he’d get the Number one jersey is again down to the plans of Sir Alex.

Next United no.1?

So, the next season is building up as a two-way fight for the Number one spot in United colors. It’s going to be a joy to watch, and we all hope that the best player comes through.