Edwin van der Sar praises Man Utd transfer target and criticises Arsenal star David Raya

Edwin van der Sar has named Manchester United transfer target Bart Verbruggen among his favourite goalkeepers to watch in the Premier League.

Andre Onana has endured another desperately poor season at Old Trafford and United’s hierarchy have reportedly decided find a long-term replacement for their £47million signing in the summer transfer window.

The Red Devils have been credited with a strong interest in Aaron Ramsdale, who is on the hunt for a new club following Southampton’s immediate return to the Championship.

Porto’s Diogo Costa, Borussia Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel and Royal Antwerp’s Senne Lammen have also been mooted as possible upgrades on Ruben Amorim’s error-prone number one.

However, reports last month claimed United had stepped up their pursuit of Brighton goalkeeper Verbruggen, 22, and talks were in place over a proposed £34m deal for the Netherlands international.

Van der Sar has previously jumped to the defence of Onana, recently backing the ‘fantastic’ Cameroon international to be United’s first-choice ‘keeper for a ‘very long time’ despite his struggles.

But it appears Van der Sar is also a big admirer of the United-linked Verbruggen and has been pleased to see his fellow countryman’s progress in his second season in English football.

Asked to name his favourite current goalkeepers in the Premier League, Van der Sar told Optus Sport: ‘I like Alisson and Ederson, both of them.

‘But I think they’re a little too much injured at the moment. They’re not consistent.

‘I like Bart Verbruggen. He’s a young Dutch goalkeeper who is doing really well.’

Van der Sar hopes to see ‘a little bit more’ from David Raya and believes the Arsenal goalkeeper at times lacks ‘decisiveness’ in his actions.

‘I expect a little bit more for Raya at Arsenal,’ the former Netherlands, Manchester United and Fulham shot-stopper added.

‘I think he has to step up his game a little bit more.

‘He has all the attributes and the qualities but you have to be more decisive.’

Manchester United find themselves languishing down in 16th place in the Premier League table and will end the season with their lowest-ever points tally.

But Amorim’s men can still qualify for next year’s Champions League by winning the Europa League – and Van der Sar hopes United bosses give their head coach the time he needs to fulfil his project, regardless of the result in Bilbao.

‘It’s obvious that there’s a lack of success, mainly on the pitch,’ he continued.

‘Besides the pitch, that’s always been a strong point from the club, but the last eight or nine years there’s not been a lot of consistency in performances, retaining managers, the buying and selling of players.

‘It’s a big task, a big challenge. Sometimes, a club needs time.

‘There’s a project in place at the moment. They need to give it the time to get it to full growth.

‘But sometimes at a big club, especially with the media and the pressure and the fans, it’s difficult to get the results quickly.’

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