Van der Sar future in doubt

Edwin van der Sar’s Fulham future became even more uncertain today after manager Chris Coleman revealed he is close to signing Portuguese goalkeeper Ricardo Baptista.

Although Coleman continues to insist that Van der Sar wants to stay, his move for 18-year-old Baptista indicates that he is keen to strengthen his goalkeeping department in January – possibly in anticipation of Van der Sar’s departure.

Baptista plays for Portuguese club Vitoria Setubal, and is considered a goalkeeper of much promise.

“We had him on trial here recently, and we are trying to get him in,” Coleman said.

“We are currently negotiating a price with Vitoria Setubal. Good young keepers are hard to come by at the moment, and if someone was injured we might have a problem.

“He has a lot of potential, and he did very well when he was with us here for a week.”

Baptista is likely to sign for the club – reports suggest he has already had a medical at Craven Cottage – when the transfer window re-opens in January.

Whether Van der Sar will still be at the club at that stage is in some doubt.

The Holland international has yet to be offered a new deal at Craven Cottage, and is reported to interest Manchester United and former club Ajax.

Coleman, though, remains optimistic.

He claimed: “I sat down with Edwin last Friday, and we had a good conversation.

“It was healthy. He knew where we were coming from, and I know what he wants.

“As I have said throughout, we want to keep Edwin at Fulham, and I think the signs are good that he wants to stay.

“Until he signs – or he doesn’t – we will not know for sure, but everything he is saying to me suggests that he wants to stay.

“But we have not offered him a contract yet. We have talked to him about offering him a new deal.”

While Van der Sar’s prospects at the club are difficult to fathom, striker Andy Cole appears to be approaching the form that made him one of the most respected forwards in England during his time at Newcastle and Manchester United.

Cole – who captains Fulham – has scored seven goals since joining the club from Blackburn in the summer.

He claims to be enjoying the game far more, although his unsmiling demeanour on the field does not suggest contentment.

But Coleman is not worried that Cole rarely appears happy during a match.

“It would be no good if I had 11 players who had a smile on their faces regardless of the result,” insisted Coleman.

“He can be aggressive and he has a nasty streak, but those are some of the reasons why he is captain.

“Every team needs a player like Andy Cole. He is a very intense character and he never wants to lose, irrespective of whether it is a game or a training match.

“I am not worried about Andy not being a nice guy. He is leading the team, and that is the most important thing.”