JULIO CESAR PLAYS DOWN MAN UNITED LINK
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Manchester United want Ajax keeper Maarten Stekelenburg to replace Edwin van der Sar
Going Dutch: Stekelenburg is top of United wishlist
Maarten Stekelenburg is Manchester United's first choice to replace his fellow Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar at Old Trafford.
Van der Sar, who turned 40 in October, confirmed this week he will quit at the end of the season after six years at United.
And Rene Meulensteen, United's first team coach, revealed Sir Alex Ferguson has chosen £10million-rated Stekelenburg, 28, ahead of Manuel Neuer, of Schalke, and Atletico Madrid's David de Gea after asking Van der Sar for his opinion on the 6ft 5in Ajax keeper.
'Stekelenburg is the keeper who is at the top of our wanted list,' Muelensteen told Dutch magazine Voetbal International. 'We talk a lot among ourselves about who should replace Van der Sar. Alex Ferguson has spoken about Stekelenburg with Edwin.'
Van der Sar will sit out today's FA Cup fourth-round tie at Southampton, leaving Ferguson to choose between recalling Tomasz Kuszczak or giving a debut to Anders Lindegaard.
But Lindegaard has been signed as a back-up keeper and Kuszczak will leave Old Trafford this summer. It is even possible Ferguson could sign a third keeper after assistant boss Mike Phelan confirmed United's interest in Rui Patricio, the 22-year-old from Sporting Lisbon.
'We've known Rui Patricio for a long time,' said Phelan. 'He's a young keeper with enormous potential.'
Ferguson paid tribute to Van der Sar yesterday, saying: 'When you get to the age of 40 and you're still playing top-level football, you know you're going to hit the wall sometime. All Edwin is doing is making sure he doesn't hit the wall while he's at United. If I was in his shoes, going out at the very top would be the thing to do.'
Thirty-something: Rejuvenated Dimitar Berbatov
Meanwhile, Ferguson has indicated that United will open negotiations over a new deal for Dimitar Berbatov, whose £100,000-a-week contract runs out in 18 months.
The Bulgaria striker is finally producing the form United hoped he would when he signed from Tottenham for £30.75m two-and-a-half years ago.
Berbatov already has 20 goals this season and Ferguson believes the player's birthday tomorrow will not be his only 30th celebration of the season.
'He's playing with great confidence and could easily get to the 30-goal mark,' said the United boss.'
Ferguson will take a 'strong' squad to St Mary's as he looks to avoid a repeat of United's only defeat this season - a 4-0 Carling Cup loss at West Ham, where the manager felt his fringe players let him down. He will be without full backs Patrice Evra and Rafael.
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My guess is it's another smokescreen popped by Ferguson. Usually before a major transfer all sorts of monkey and donkey will be "linked" to a move to United but at the last minute it's another player being signed.
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To be honest, I don't mind. Him + Lindegaard would prolly be the best 1-2 combo for years to come.
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If he takes over from VDS I am also pleased. I am happy to see the back of Ben Foster, he really cannot make it as United no 1.
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Inter Milan goalkeeper Julio Cesar has played down reports linking him with a move to Manchester United.
Cesar has been linked with a possible switch to Old Trafford in the summer as a replacement for the retiring Edwin van der Sar.
Speculation over Cesar's future at Inter has intensified amid rumours that Inter have lined up Bologna's Emiliano Viviano as the Brazilian's replacement at the San Siro.
However, Cesar insists he remains committed to Inter and will stay until the end of his contract in 2014.
"United? I never heard from anyone, and from what I know, neither have Inter," Cesar told Gazzetta dello Sport.
"If the club has something to tell me in future then I will sit down with president Massimo Moratti and speak with him.
"For me Viviano's arrival wouldn't change anything.
"I don't see why I should change club when my contract expires in 2014."