Goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann extended his contract with Premiership squad Reading this week. The 35 year old American recently had impressive performances urging management to extend his deal until then of 2009. Hahnemann joined Reading from Fulham in 2002 and manager Steve Coppell was extremely please to re-sign the 6-time American International.

Manchester City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel started off the season in great manner by putting up some impressive performances while taking over from injured first choice goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson. However, ever since Isaksson has resumed his position as starting goalkeeper and Schmeichel Junior seems eager to find a new team. It is rumored that he has appeared on Barcelona’s radar after their reserve goalkeeper Albert Jorquera recently got injured and really hasn’t proven to be the perfect successor of Victor Valdes to become the next Barcelona starter anyway.

Young Valladolid goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo made his first team debut and by keeping an impressive clean sheet he confirmed what many teams already knew about him; he is one of Europe’s biggest goalkeeping talents. It is because of that why several Spanish top teams and EPL giants such as Manchester United, Everton and Liverpool are following his performances. It seems inevitable that he leaves this summer to join one of those teams, according to Valladolid Supremo Carlos Suarez: "We are prepared for any situation and it is not impossible to see that a club may think about paying his buy-out clause," the president admitted. "We want him to stay here because we will do what is best for him. But his value is continuing to grow." His buy out currently stands at €4.5m, approximately $6.6m.

Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann is expected to go back home and play for his former team Dortmund, sources close to him revealed. Dortmund's first choice goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller is out long term with injury and director of football Michaal Zorc flew to London today to finalize the transfer. When asked about the move back home Lehmann asnwered: "I should know more in the next week, so I can make a diecision about my future in the first few days of the New Year. I have listened to a few things but, at the moment I can't say too much about it." His departure from the Emirates will increase the need for another goalkeeper at Arsenal and it has been rmored that Wenger is looking at Jaakelainen, Sorenson and Boruc.

Several reports state that the relationship between Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann and his manager Arsene Wenger has completely broken down since Lehmann lost his starting goalkeeper position. Nothing could be farther from the truth, according to Wenger. Wenger said: "I am not in a situation where I have any bad feeling towards Jens Lehmann at all because I can understand him. He is a 200 per cent professional, he fights everyday to be in the team but we have three keepers' of top, top class and the two that do not play can feel it is not justified. It is not only Lehmann, it is Fabianski as well and he showed himself at Blackburn. At the end of the day I can only chose one and Almunia is doing very well.

Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia should be considered to play for England next year, according to his manager Arsene Wenger. How could he? Isn’t he Spanish?.....are the logical questions. Well, the 30 year old goalkeeper would become eligible to play for the English National Team next year under British residency rules. Wenger addresses Fabio Capello through the media: "I could only advise you to take advantage of it and call him up for the England squad. Almunia came here without a CV so he had to make a name with his performances. It was not easy because he had to get experience at a big club. He continued: "He had never played for a big club before and made some mistakes, but he has gained confidence and calmness. He is a good keeper. I knew he was good but how could he be Arsenal’s keeper? Only by playing. Everyone makes mistakes. Van der Sar makes mistakes. But it was more difficult for Almunia because he was already under pressure from an outstanding goalkeeper behind him. That was a tough test. If you play bad games, you are under pressure immediately." 

PS Do you think this is a clear signal to Lehmann??

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."

One of the most frequently asked questions after Capello accepted the responsibility for the England National Team is who will be his starting goalkeeper? Will he go back to ‘good old’ Paul Robinson? Or will he give Scott Carson another chance? Some say Ben Foster will be the number one goalkeeper after he recovers from injury....I am glad I am not Fabio Capello (although I wouldn’t mind his salary). These are all world class goalkeepers and it will be hard to choose. We have put some stats together to help him make his decision:

 PAUL ROBINSON

Minutes on pitch 1350

Goals conceded 24

Minutes per goal 56

Clean sheets 3

Saves from inside box 21S

aves from outside box 15

Saves to shots ratio 60%

Punches 7Catches 16

Dropped catches 8

Catch success ratio 89%

 DAVID JAMES

Minutes on pitch 1530

Goals conceded 15

Minutes per goal 102

Clean sheets 8

Saves from inside box 39

Saves from outside box 28

Saves to shots ratio 82%

Punches 14

Catches 33

Dropped catches 1

Catch success ratio 97%

 SCOTT CARSON

Minutes on pitch 1326

Goals conceded 16

Minutes per goal 83

Clean sheets 7

Saves from inside box 22

Saves from outside box 21

Saves to shots ratio 73%

Punches 5Catches 13

Dropped catches 2

Catch success ratio 87%

CHRIS KIRKLAND

Minutes on pitch 1440

Goals conceded 31

Minutes per goal 46

Clean sheets 2

Saves from inside box 28

Saves from outside box 16

Saves to shots ratio 59%

Punches 4Catches 31

Dropped catches 4

Catch success ratio 89%

 ROBERT GREEN

Minutes on pitch 1440

Goals conceded 14

Minutes per goal 103

Clean sheets 6

Saves from inside box 23

Saves from outside box 30

Saves to shots ratio 79%

Punches 8Catches 34

Dropped catches 3

Catch success ratio 92%

 BEN FOSTER (06-07)

Minutes on pitch 2564

Goals conceded 44

Minutes per goal 58

Clean sheets 6

Saves from inside box 63

Saves from outside box 41

Saves to shots ratio 70%

Punches 9Catches 49

Dropped catches 8

Catch success ration 84%