Sir Alex shuns Akinfeev reports
442 Staff - Wednesday 21 October 2009, 14:10
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has dismissed reports linking the club with a move for CSKA Moscow goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev, insisting both Ben Foster and Tomasz Kuszczak are suitable replacements to succeed Edwin van der Sar.
The 23-year-old has made more than 160 league appearances for the
Russian outfit, as well as making 37 outings for his country, helping
Guus Hiddink's side reach the semi-finals of Euro 2008.
As a result, reports have surfaced linking the shot-stopper with a move to the Red Devils, who have been linked
with a string of goalkeepers to fill 38-year-old
Dutchman Van der Sar's boots.
However, speaking ahead of United's Champions League clash with CSKA at the Luzhniki Stadium, the Scot denied he was weighing up a move for Akinfeev.
"I can't deal with rumour because we have two very good young goalkeepers at the club at the moment in Kuszczak and Foster and the future lies with them," he said.
"When Edwin van der Sar finally decides to retire I'm quite confident these players can take over."
The Old Trafford outfit have also been tipped to sign Schalke custodian Manuel Neuer, Lazio glove-man Fernando Muslera and Sporting stopper Rui Patricio.