---
title: "5 Reasons Utd Should NOT Sign Given!"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/5-reasons-utd-should-not-sign-given/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Escapini"
section: "Manchester City Football Club"
published: "2010-11-12T21:35:37Z"
modified: "2010-11-13T08:56:59Z"
---

# 5 Reasons Utd Should NOT Sign Given!

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/shay-given-150x150.jpg)

With Van der Sar having recently celebrated his 40th birthday, [Thomas Kuszczak](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/tag/thomas-kuszczak) failing to establish himself as a first-team regular, and young [Ben Amos](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/tag/ben-amos) only beginning to find his feet at the club, Ferguson may see [Shay Given](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/tag/shay-given) as the ideal man to take charge between the posts at Old Trafford, and would surely look to snap him up in January to pre-empt an offer from another Premiership manager.

So, why shouldn’t United sign City’s second-choice stopper?

**1.** A move across the city between bitter rivals would, inevitably, be complicated.

**2.** Despite being used to the pressure at the top flight, United would still be a big step for Given, who has yet to win an award.

**3.** The player has never expressed an interest in joining United.

**4.** Despite Van der Sar’s age, the Dutchman is in fine form and still going strong, and Given could not hope to be first choice if he signed in January; he would, in all likelihood, merely be swapping one bench for another.

**5.** What would Given cost? His wages at City will certainly not be those of any other second-choice keeper, and city would certainly not let any player go over to the red side of Manchester on the cheap.