Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has signed a one year extension to his contract with Manchester United. His contract would have ended at the end of this season but the new extension will keep him at Old Trafford until June of 2009.. It was rumored that the 37 year old goalkeeper would be brought in as a coach rather than a player but ManU manager Alex Ferguson said: "Edwin has signed a new contract for another year totally as a player,. "We are pleased with that. His consistency and experience has been a great help to this club."

Van der Sar, also the starting goalkeeper for the Dutch National Team, is expected to come under additional pressure next year from rising star back-up keeper Tomasz Kuszczak and recovering from knee surgery England hope Ben Foster. "Edwin is No. 1 at the moment, so he has a chance of being No. 1 next season," Ferguson said. "But you cannot guarantee players' positions and tell them they are going to be in the team."