Fulham goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar

Manchester United want to sign Edwin Van der Sar in January.

Old Trafford chief Alex Ferguson is desperate to land a keeper on the cheap and has targeted Fulham’s Dutch star — who is out of contract in the summer.

The Londoners are aware of the interest and are braced for United to snatch their star player for the second time in a year.

Last season, Fergie snapped up Cottagers’ French striker Louis Saha.

Van der Sar, 33, has been outstanding for Fulham since arriving in a £7million switch from Juventus in 2001.

But Fulham have since slashed their wage bill and could not afford to keep him on anything like his current £40,000-a-week wage.

Van der Sar was being lined up for a move to Ajax but would fancy United.

Boss Fergie is unconvinced by keepers Tim Howard and Roy Carroll.

Howard has been axed after blunders against Bolton and Lyon last month.

His replacement Carroll is out of contract in the summer and has not been offered a new deal.

Middlesbrough, meanwhile, have targeted Bolton keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen to replace Mark Schwarzer — if the Aussie quits the Riverside next summer.

Schwarzer, 32, is out of contract at the end of the season and there have been no talks over a new deal.