Manchester United and Arsenal will enter into a bidding war next January for Ajax goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg, according to reports.
Both Premier League clubs have been monitoring the giant custodian in recent months and have decided to throw their offers into the hat in an attempt to solve their respective goalkeeper situations, with United looking for a replacement for Edwin van der Sar, while the Gunners hoping to end their search for a stable pair of hands.
Ajax are determined to receive no less than £9 million for their prospect as the Dutch club continues to try to stave off interest in the talents from their production lines as well as financial difficulties off the pitch.
The Gunners have had scouts watching Stekelenburg over the past few weeks as manager Arsene Wenger grapples with a decision on a better option in goal compared to the blundering Manuel Almunia and the inexperienced Lukasz Fabianski. While the Frenchman is also said to be keen on Fulham’s Mark Schwarzer, the younger Stekelenburg could be a better long term prospect as well as one with suitable experience with regular top level football.
United have had reports done on the 28-year-old several times over the last month although they are also keen on Atletico Madrid shot-stopper David de Gea. However, Stekelenburg has had the ringing endorsement of Van der Sar who advised United boss Sir Alex Ferguson to move for the Dutch international.
“They have both been watching him very closely recently,” an Ajax insider told Goal.
“Ajax are expecting offers for the player in January but a top class goalkeeper is not cheap – and he is top class.
“We accept that he would like to join one of these big clubs and he wants to play in England.”
It has been reported that Ajax will allow Stekelenburg to fulfill his wish of playing in the Premier League, but would request the goalkeeper to stay on at least until the end of the current season.
Tags: Ajax Amsterdam, Arsenal, Dutch Eredivisie, English Premier League, Maarten Stekelenburg, Manchester United, transfer news
