Legend slams United’s choice of keeper

Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel has slammed reports rookie Denmark international Anders Lindegaard will replace Edwin van der Sar.

Lindegaard has emerged as favourite to take over from United’s veteran goalkeeper if, as expected, the Dutchman retires at the end of the season.

But Schmeichel has slammed the reported 3.5-million-pound move for the 26-year-old from Norwegian club Aalesunds FK as a waste of money.

“I don’t believe it for a minute,” Schmeichel said, claiming Liverpool’s Pepe Reina was the right man to take over the custodial reins at Old Trafford.

Schmeichel, widely recognised as the greatest goalkeeper in the club’s history, was asked whether his compatriot Lindegaard was good enough to play for England’s biggest club.

“No,” he replied. “We are talking about Manchester United here.”

“You can look at talent, you can look at young good players, (but) you don’t want that, you want someone who can go in straight away and give performances in 80 percent of the games that the number one choice goalkeeper will play for Manchester United.”

“Too many goalkeepers have been through, in and out of the doors at Manchester United, and the general perception is, for this team to play well and win trophies, that position has to be (filled by) someone who is of the very, very highest quality but also the right experience.”

Aalesunds Chief Executive Henrik Hoff and Chairman Bjarne Haagensen are in England to negotiate the deal.

“Henrik and I are in place in Manchester,” Haagensen told TV2.

Asked if a deal was close, he responded: “It is. We are in the middle of it. I can’t say more right now.”

Lindegaard, who kept a clean sheet against Czech Republic on Wednesday, would not comment on the transfer rumours talk.

“I have only heard the rumours about United, I have absolutely no comment,” he told VG.

Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid President Enrique Cerezo has dismissed reports of an impending deal to sell young goalkeeper David de Gea to United for 15 million pounds.

Cerezo claims the 20-year-old De Gea, who has a contract with the Rojiblancos until 2013, is not going anywhere.

“Nobody has spoken with us. Nor do I have any idea (about this matter),” Cerezo was quoted as saying by Spanish newspaper AS on Friday.

“We hope that he will be a Rojiblanco player for a long time.”

United’s need for at least one new goalkeeper has become a priority for Ferguson, with Ben Foster sold to Birmingham City in the summer and the manager never being fully convinced by Tomasz Kuszczak, who is expected to leave.

The club have high hopes for 20-year-old Ben Amos but believe he is far from ready for first team duty.