Reds goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak will make his loan move to Old Trafford from West Bromwich Albion permanent in July, and is set to continue his role as Edwin van der Sar’s understudy next season.

Some reports suggested that United had decided to push through a permanent transfer for the 25-year-old as a result of team-mate Ben Foster’s impending cruciate knee ligament surgery.

However, as United chief executive David Gill confirmed on 11 August 2006 when the Reds officially unveiled the Polish international, it was always intended that Kuszczak would complete his transfer this summer.

"Tomasz will be a Manchester United player for the next four years", Gill said at a press conference ten months ago. "He has come to us on loan for the first year, and then will join us permanently in July 2007.”

Foster, who impressed during a two-year loan spell at Watford, was expected to return to Manchester to challenge Edwin van der Sar and Kuszczak for first-team football next season. But injury means a lengthy spell on the sidelines for the England international, paving the way for Kuszczak to continue as van der Sar’s understudy.

The Polish stopper, who saved a Gilberto Silva penalty on his Reds debut in a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal in September 2006, made 13 appearances last term, keeping four clean sheets.