United release two keepers

MANCHESTER UNITED manager Alex Ferguson will make signing a new goalkeeper a priority this summer after Roy Carroll and Ricardo were both released yesterday.

While the decision to allow Ricardo to leave was expected, Carroll’s exit came as a surprise.

The 27-year-old Northern Ireland international looked set to put pen-to-paper on a new long-term deal. However, Ferguson is understood to have become irritated at the length of the negotiations, not to mention the haggling, and has shown Carroll the door.

With Tim Howard the only senior goalkeeper now at the club after he signed a two-year extension last week, the Old Trafford boss has some business to attend to in the summer.

What kind of financial muscle Ferguson will have is unclear until Malcolm Glazer finally takes up his ownership.

A figure of £20million, however, has been widely touted as his transfer kitty. Ferguson is likely to look both at home and abroad in an effort to bring in at least one top-class goalkeeper.

Newcastle’s Shay Given and Bolton’s Jussi Jaaskelainen both have pedigree in the top flight while Antti Niemi has also proved his worth between the posts for relegated Southampton.

However, Ferguson is likely to be left frustrated should he try to lure the experienced Carlo Cudicini from Chelsea.