Sir Alex Ferguson has been told that Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina is the only man to succeed Edwin van der Sar at Old Trafford – and it’s advice which comes from a man who Fergie is certain to take notice of. United legend Peter Schmeichel reckons that the Spanish keeper should be United’s top target when Sir Alex looks to replace his 40 year old veteran at the end of the season.
And the great Dane who spent eight years at Old Trafford from 1991 to the treble winning campaign of 1999 also surprisingly insists that United should forget about his countryman Anders Lindegaard who has been dubbed the “new Schmeichel.”
Lindegaard has been monitored closely by Ferguson and is high up on the list of keepers being considered but Schmeichel said “I don’t believe he’s one they are looking at. I’m pretty sure they would go for someone like Reina. You can look at talent, you can look at young, good players but you want someone that can go in straight away and give performances in 80 per cent of the games”
“Too many goalkeepers have been in and out of the doors at United” he continued “and I think now the general perception is, for this team to play well and win trophies, that position has to be someone who is of the very, very highest quality. But also with the right experience and that’s why I think someone like Reina would fit the bill.”
He says £20m rated Reina is the ideal man for his former club who have spent the last 12 months looking for a long term successor for the veteran Dutchman. Reina has been reported to insist that he’s fully committed to a long term contract at Anfield despite earlier reports suggesting he had told manager Roy Hodgson of his desire to leave.
“I have not told the manager that I wish to leave in January or at any time” Reina told Liverpool’s official website “it’s important our fans know this. I have a long term contract and am fully committed to the club.” Despite Reina’s reassuring words, Schmeichel is backing United’s pursuit of the Spaniard.
“The rumours are very, very strong around Old Trafford with this. A lot of goalkeepers are mentioned but Reina seems to be the one that fits in the team and if he ever was to leave Liverpool, which again there is a big, big rumour he will, Manchester United would be a great club for him to go to” Schmeichel insists.
“I hope Pepe Reina will go to United when Edwin calls it a day and I hear rumours that he is going to leave Liverpool so for him to go to United would be very, very good for us.”
Two points need to be made about these comments. Despite him having a spell at City in semi retirement, Schmeichel obviously still considers himself as one of the United family. The other question is whether this Old Trafford legend is merely stirring the pot on behalf of his old club or is he genuinely privy to some bona fide insider information? Very, very, interesting!
Can a transfer such as this really take place?
Just in case you wonder why some comments are deleted, have a look at this example from someone who I suspect is trying to send a message under an assumed name after his previous ones were binned. It has been copied and pasted exactly as it was sent….”mm , seems to have gone very quite over there in slumland , is that cos you scum have decided to hound some small danish club for your new keeper ????, francis , please keep off subjects you know fuck all about ., that , having read your recent blogs re the true red nation , seems to include FOOTBALL LIVERPOOL , oh , and this is a web blog you tit , not A level english you dumb twat !!!” Someone, please give me the strength to be patient! Surely not ALL Scousers can be cretins like this one.
Frank Scicluna, only cretins are you manc scrum, only way you win these days is to play wigan with 9 men your team is crap.
I am surprise you know any scouse i put this in my comments to see if you would notice this and like an idiot you pick this out.
Lastly, like all prawn sandwich fans like you should show respect to liverpool and it fans we have still won more trophies than you.Just to put you right, i have a grade in english O’level and a grade at A’level english.
Ps i have more qualifications than you will ever dream of like all scousers we are most intelligent supporters in this country.
I suggest you go on a Liverpool blog David. You are giving ALL Scousers a bad name here.
listen very careful, you uneducated maltese manc scum from scrumland you might be only maltese that supports manure utd because alot of your countrymen do not support your team.
Lastly, this is my last comment on your crap website and as you are from malta i would be very suprised if you speak english proper and use grammar.
Frank, i think its only me and you on this site you have not recieved no comments on this blog since 21/11/10 at 10:46pm.Frank, you need to relaxed this is only banter like all great scousers i have good sense of humour.
Ps Hodgson is not good manager and will be replaced by christmas watch this space.
So you have been let out of rehab have you David? It’s hardly worth responding to your illiterate comments but here goes 1) Yes, I’m a very proud Maltese but I doubt if you even know how to find it on a map 2) I won’t get into the Manc scum argument because both cities have their share of them, you’re a perfect example of it 3) Despite what you regard as my lack of English ‘proper’ I trust that it’s at least as good as your Maltese ‘proper’ 4) You’re right, Scousers do not make a habit of posting comments on a United fans blog – except cretins like yourself 5) Not sure if I asked you this before – are you at least old enough to vote?
PS – Who’s your tip to replace Hodgson? Is Rafa coming back to Anfield following his failure in Italy?