( CNN ) -- Veteran Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar will retire at the end of this season , according to his Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson . Earlier this month United confirmed the signing of Anders Lindegaard from Aalesunds FK , and Ferguson has now admitted the 26-year-old Dane is likely to replace van der Sar as the English club 's No . 1 next season . `` We are planning for this being Edwin 's last season . But even if he finishes as a player , he might stay at the club because of his knowledge and standing in the game , '' Ferguson told reporters on Thursday . Lindegaard has signed a three-and-a-half-year deal for an undisclosed fee and he will be formally registered in the January transfer window . Ferguson added : `` He is training with us now and that is important . It will bring him to a better level of fitness because he has not played for a few weeks . We will see how his progress goes . '' Meanwhile , Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier has confirmed he will decide on the future of veteran American goalkeeper Brad Friedel in February . The 39-year-old Friedel is close to becoming the oldest player to ever appear for the Premier League club , but his contract expires at the end of the season and Houllier has admitted he is looking for a new custodian . `` We are looking at several goalkeepers and we 've told Brad we are looking for a keeper for the future , '' the Frenchman told reporters on Thursday . `` If Brad is fine in February , then we will keep him . We 've told him that , if he feels OK . ''
Alex Ferguson expects veteran Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar to retire . The 40-year-old is likely to hang up his boots at the end of the current season . Manchester United have already signed Danish goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard . Van Der Sar's contract runs out in June and he has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford this summer.