Wanted: By Manchester United
Marc Connolly
ESPN.com
First it was Kasey Keller. Then Brad Friedel. Now it appears that Tim Howard might become the latest U.S. National Team goalkeeper to play in the vaunted English Premier League.
Tim Howard's stellar play has impressed Manchester United. (Stephen Dunn/GettyImages)
ESPN.com has learned through a source that Manchester United, perhaps the world's most revered club, has made an offer to Major League Soccer in hopes of acquiring the 24-year-old MetroStar.
When reached for comment, MLS Deputy Commissioner Ivan Gazidis would only say the following: "There's discussions about our top players every day, as clubs around the world express interest on a regular basis."
The EPL champions originally got in contact with Howard and MetroStars G.M. Nick Sakiewicz in March. They requested to get a look at the MLS all-star in training over in England, but settled for a series of video clips since the MetroStars were already gathered for preseason training. At the time, Sakiewicz said that Howard would have his blessing to go if a contract was offered, while Howard was quoted as saying, "You dream about things like this," calling Manchester United "the biggest sports team in world history."
After watching tapes of Howard in action, Man. U. sent its goalkeeper coach, Paul Barron, to Houston to take in the U.S.-Mexico friendly on May 8. He was apparently sold on Howard after seeing him stifle the Mexicans with five saves in posting a shutout in the 0-0 draw. Manager Sir Alex Ferguson could be looking at Howard as an understudy to France's Fabien Barthez, the World Cup hero in 1998, or as a less expensive option as his first-team keeper should the 31-year-old Barthez be let go.
Bringing Howard in could be one of the "two or three signings" that Ferguson recently mentioned could be in store for Manchester United, rather than the wholesale changes that have been speculated since the club was defeated by Real Madrid in the quarterfinals of the Champions League.
Ferguson has been rumored to be going after Brazilian midfielder Ronaldinho, Real Madrid midfielder Claude Makelele and Blackburn's Damien Duff, amongst others, to round out his juggernaut that includes world stars such as David Beckham, Ryan Giggs and Barclayard Player of the Year Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Howard signed a four-year contract with MLS in January to make the league's maximum ($270,000). He would stand to get a considerable raise with Man. U. and Major League Soccer would also receive a transfer fee for a player of Howard's caliber. Should Man. U. want Howard available for preseason training, the squad will be touring the U.S. this summer with games in Seattle (July 22), Los Angeles (July 27), East Rutherford, N.J. (July 31) and Philadelphia (Aug. 3).
The North Brunswick, N.J., native joined the MetroStars in 1998 season as a Project 40 player. He played in 19 games his first three seasons before becoming the team's starter in 2001. Since that time, he has led MLS in saves the past two seasons and has blossomed into the top goalkeeper in the league.
Howard, who trained in the off-season with Feyenoord in Holland, has been just as exceptional in 2003, being one of the main reasons why Bob Bradley's club is off and running with a 4-1-1 record to top the Eastern Conference. In that time, he has posted three shutouts and has allowed a mere three goals for a league-leading 0.49 goals-against-average, including a current 229-minute shutout streak dating back to May 3. For the U.S. National Team, he has played in five games this year, going 2-1-1, after winning his only two starts for Bruce Arena's squad in 2002.
At 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, the former high school basketball star is known for his long reach and tremendous athleticism that allows him to make acrobatic saves on balls that normally would find the back of the net.
"You can hit a shot that you promise is going in and you think is going in the net already, and he'll go and make the most mind-boggling save," says Columbus Crew midfielder Kyle Martino. "He's a tough goalkeeper to beat day-in and day-out."
That's what some of the top players in the world already say about Friedel and Keller. Maybe next season that's what they'll be saying about Howard.
At Old Trafford.
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