MANCHESTER United have handed goalkeeper Ben Foster a new four-year deal – and are poised to snap up promising winger Gabriel Obertan from Bordeaux.
While the 20-year-old is having a medical ahead of a probable move to Old Trafford, Foster has signed a contract extension that will keep him at the club until 2013.
It is a welcome boost for the 26-year-old England international, whose career has
been hampered by injury. He missed the end of last season after needing surgery on a ruptured ligament in his right thumb.
Foster was forced to miss the title run-in and the Champions League final defeat by Barcelona because of his injury. He also sat out England's World Cup qualifiers in June.
Manager Sir Alex Ferguson said: "We are delighted that Ben has signed a new four-year deal.
"Ben is seen as one of the best young goalkeepers in England and we genuinely see him as a successor to Edwin van der Sar."
Foster remains determined to claim the No 1 spot when Van der Sar decides to retire but knows he faces stiff competition from Polish shot-stopper Tomasz Kuszczak. "I'm really happy to commit my future to the club. The spirit here is fantastic and working along side Edwin and Tomasz has been a great influence," said Foster, who has made only 10 appearances for United after arriving in July 2005 from Stoke.
