Manchester United: Paul Scholes urges Louis van Gaal to sign Petr Cech as David de Gea replacement

Paul Scholes has called on Manchester United to sign Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech if David de Gea leaves the club in the summer.

The Spanish keeper, who is entering the final year of his contract, has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid at the end of the current campaign, and the former Red Devils midfielder wants Louis van Gaal to sign the Czech Republic international, as he believes that Cech could have a similar impact that Edwin van der Sar had when he joined the club from Fulham in 2005.

The former Ajax stopper joined United when he was a 35-year-old and went on to play for six more years winning every trophy at club level including the Club World Cup following their Champions League triumph in 2008.

Scholes believes that Cech can have a similar impact as he is a multiple Premier League and a Champions League winner with the Blues and will not take any time at all to adapt to the Premier League.

The 33-year-old keeper has made it clear that he wants out from Chelsea after spending a season on the bench being the backup for Thibaut Courtois, and his agent recently confirmed that his client would like to join one of Arsenal, Manchester United or Paris Saint Germain.

"If De Gea does go, United should sign Petr Cech," Scholes said, as quoted by Goal.

"I remember the effect Edwin van der Sar had on the club when he arrived in 2005. United had struggled since Peter Schmeichel to find a really commanding goalkeeper. Fabien Barthez was the closest we got."

"Edwin came ready-made. He was a Champions League winner, he had four years' Premier League experience with Fulham, and in the end our manager got six extremely successful years out of him."

"Edwin was almost 35 when he joined United. Cech has only just turned 33. He could potentially play another six years for United," the former England midfielder added.

"There would be no concern about having to give him time to play his way into the position or the demands that the Premier League makes of a goalkeeper new to the country. United won't want to lose De Gea but there is a solution in the offing," Scholes explained.