West Ham seem to have all but secured another Premier League campaign with the three points gained against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, and so the summer transfer rumours begin.
One of the names already being bandied about is that of Manchester United goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard. And it should come as no surprise that West Ham have been heavily linked with the Danish international.
The Hammers’ current first-choice stopper Jussi Jaaskelainen, who is about to turn 38, cannot have many more years of top-flight football left in him – some might even say he is already well past his best. Despite some superb performances this season, Jussi has some very harsh critics among the West Ham faithful, for whom the ‘keeper’s penchant for unforced errors are an unnecessary risk. They will be frightened of the Hammers coming down with ‘second-season syndrome’ in 2013/2014 if they do not iron out such chinks in their armour during the summer.
Lindegaard, although not the most obvious choice to wear West Ham’s number one shirt, is almost 10 years younger than Jaaskelainen and should, therefore, be reaching his prime as a goalkeeper. Furthermore, the United stopper has been described as vocal and a good organiser of his defenders – features all Hammers fans would welcome as additions to the side’s inconsistent back five. He has also proven himself to be a good shot stopper despite having his chances limited by a couple of serious injuries.
Upon securing Lindegaard’s services for a fee rumoured to be around £3.5m, Sir Alex Ferguson praised the ‘keeper as being “one of the brightest young goalkeepers in the game” – high praise indeed from the man who cultivated Peter Schmeichel’s illustrious career.
West Ham would surely do well to acquire a player whom Sir Alex has complimented so enthusiastically, but the United boss has forsaken Lindegaard in favour of the in-form David De Gea. As such the rumours linking the Dane with a move away from Old Trafford were only set in motion recently when The Mirror published quotes in which he expressed his desire to play regular first team football.
“For me at the moment it’s not easy deal being on the bench when the team is performing as well as we do,” Lindegaard said.
“And, of course, when David is also performing as well as he does and has been doing in the last couple of months. Of course, everybody wants to play and I’m not different from anyone else.
“I’m sure all the players who are not in the starting line-up every game would say the same and they want to play.
“That’s how football players are. It’s a genetic thing in us – we live for the thrill of playing and the adrenaline you get when you step out on the pitch.”
So, with Lindegaard seemingly wanting something his current club may not be able to offer and West Ham needing something their current goalkeeper may not be able to provide, we have the perfect recipe for a transfer rumour.
However, following the publication of those quotes, Lindegaard went out of his way to cool the speculation by tweeting:
It would not be the first time a player has indicated he has no desire to leave a club, only to do exactly that, but this rumour appears unlikely to ever be more than a conversation taken out of context. Plus, it’s unlikely West Ham can even afford Lindegaard.
It is much more probable that Lindegaard will stay and fight for his place at Man Utd and West Ham will seek a goalkeeper within their price range.
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