United look to Foster talent

Third-choice keeper
The 22-year-old has put pen to paper on a four-year contract at Old Trafford despite never having played a first-team game for second-division Stoke. Indeed, with Steve Simonsen and former Chelsea FC No1 Ed de Goey ahead of him in the Stoke pecking order, Foster was loaned out to lower-league sides Kidderminster Harriers FC and Wrexham FC last season.

Earlier arrival
It was at Wrexham that Foster caught the eye of Sir Alex Ferguson, and the United manager has decided to bring in the youngster as back-up for Tim Howard and another new arrival, Dutch international Edwin van der Sar. The English Premiership outfit will pay an initial €1.4m, with the fee potentially rising to €3.6m depending on appearances and international honours.