Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson is prepared to ditch struggling goalkeeper David De Gea and find a replacement for the rest of the season in the January transfer window.

The 22 year old, who was signed by United from Atletico Madrid for a record-breaking £17m fee in 2011, has so far failed to impress and make the no 1 jersey his own.

After flipping back and forth between choosing De Gea or Anders Linegaard between the sticks so far this season, The Mirror reports that Ferguson is looking in January for a replacement who is eligible to play in the Champions League.

Stoke City's Asmir Bergovic and Liverpool's Pepe Reina both fit the bill. Stoke would be reluctant to let star player Bergovic go, having kept 9 clean sheets for the Potters so far this season, the most of any team in the Premier League.

Reina, who has been Liverpool's no 1 for seven years, has a less certain future under manager Brendan Rodgers. The fierce rivalry between the two clubs could scupper any deal, as no player has moved from Anfield to Old Trafford since 1938.

Written and presented by Alfred Joyner