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Green light for cheaper foreign keepers
Robert Green believes the lack of English goalkeepers at the leading Premier League clubs is down to more accent being put on buying top-class strikers and not a lack of ability.
Edwin Van der Sar, Petr Cech, Pepe Reina, Manuel Almunia, Tim Howard and Brad Friedel were the numbers ones at the top six clubs for the 2008-2009 campaign. Green, set to make his first England start in Saturday's World Cup qualifier in Kazhakstan, was the exception to the rule in being a regular at West Ham, who just missed out on a Europa League spot.
But the former Norwich player is adamant the cost of goalkeepers in this country and the preference to instead bring in proven goalscorers is the reason rather than a drop in standards.
Green said: "People point out there are no English keepers in the top six clubs but that is the Premier League now and I think there are a number of factors involved in that.
"You look at the keepers who moved to the top-six clubs. Van der Sar cost a couple of million pounds, Almunia cost nothing. Then you look at English goalkeepers and the cost of them.
"Chris Kirkland moved to Liverpool for 6 million and Scott Carson has moved for big money before. That is the element within clubs now - and the emphasis is to put the money on forwards.
"If you are a manager with a budget and you can pick up an experienced keeper on the continent for a little amount, then you are going to do it because you need your budget to go towards your forward who can score goals.
"That is where you as a manager earn money and keep your job. That is the real over-riding factor."
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