Manchester United have been told they must wait until the summer to sign Fiorentina goalkeeper Sebastien Frey.

The 29-year-old former Parma and Inter 'keeper is having an excellent season with the Viola in Serie A, and has a contract at Artemio Franchi until 2013.

But agent Giovanni Branchini claims United are lining the Frenchman up as a possible replacement for Edwin van der Sar.

Van der Sar has returned to training with the Red Devils after his wife suffered a brain haemorrhage in December, but it is not known whether he will extend his deal at Old Trafford beyond the summer.

"I cannot deny that Frey is on United's shopping list," Branchini said in the Daily Mail.

"But we will have to wait until the end of the season to see what will happen.

"Fiorentina are not willing to negotiate before May so we will have to agree with them.

"Seba is having a great season and the Viola are his main concern at the moment. So no problem at all, then in the summer we will talk."