Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has revealed that defender Rio Ferdinand is set to be offered a new deal to ward off interest from potential suitors.
Ferdinand is currently serving an eight-month ban for missing a drugs test but that doesn't appear to have quashed Chelsea's interest in the 24-year-old with the Stamford Bridge club reportedly lining up a summer bid.
But United are said to be willing to offer the England centre-back an improved contract to keep him at Old Trafford until 2009.
"We've been discussing it with his agent (Pini Zahavi)," Ferguson told The Guardian.
"He's only 24 and he could realistically play for us at the highest level for another 12 to 14 years.
"I think his form has been magnificent. You don't realise just how good a player he is until he's not there.
"To me, he's been terrific."