MANCHESTER UNITED are to offer Nemanja Vidic a contract extension that will place him among the highest earners at Old Trafford.
Vidic’s position at United has been in doubt, with his agent indicating the 28-year-old is open to a move to Spain or Italy. Alex Ferguson, speaking after the club’s pre-season friendly against Philadelphia Union yesterday, admitted he could offer no guarantees on the defender’s future.
“I can’t clarify it at all,” the United manager said.
Real Madrid are among several clubs linked with the commanding centre-half this year, and Ferguson went only so far as to say “I believe so” when asked if Vidic will still be a Manchester United player next season.
United officials, however, mindful of the damaging repercussions should Vidic leave a club plagued by injuries in defence last season, hope to end the uncertainty by securing the Serb on an extended contract.
The former Spartak Moscow defender, signed for €8.3 million by United in 2006, has two years remaining on his current €80,000-a-week deal and there is a feeling within Old Trafford that his agent is angling for improved terms.
United usually open negotiations with players entering the final two years of a contract and are expected to offer Vidic a two-year extension and improved terms of around €106,000 a week.
Talks on a new €154,000-a-week contract for Wayne Rooney are also planned ahead of the Premier League season, with United confident of reaching a swift agreement with the England striker.
Despite his confidence United’s young talent can supplement a title challenge and diminish the need for major signings this summer, Ferguson has revealed Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley will be allowed to join a Premier League club on loan next season. The pair impressed during United’s 1-0 win over Philadelphia Union, in which Gabriel Obertan scored the only goal in a hard-fought contest from Welbeck’s pass, but Ferguson believes their need for playing time necessitates a temporary move from Old Trafford.
On Welbeck, who is wanted by Steve Bruce at Sunderland, the United manager said: “It is a big season for Danny because over the last three seasons he has not had a consistent run of games. We sent him to Preston last year and he only ended up playing three games and had an operation on his knee.
“One thing about him is that he is still growing so there is weakness in his legs. He is 6ft 2in and just sprouted up in the last year and a half. He needs consistent football so we might put him out on loan again to a Premier League team.”
Cleverley, the highly rated England Under-21 international midfielder, is also available on a loan deal. “Tom is a very talented boy,” Ferguson said. “He is going to be a very, very good footballer but we are considering putting him out on loan to a Premier League club as well. He is young and improved tremendously on loan at Watford last season. He got an unfortunate injury towards the end of the season which put him out for quite a long time, but he can play everywhere in midfield and that is a big advantage.”
Rooney could be back in the United side earlier than expected. The England striker is in line to face an Airtricity League XI in the first soccer match at the Aviva Stadium on August 4th. Ferguson has confirmed Rooney and the other World Cup players could come into consideration for the friendly, even though they are not due to return to training until Wednesday. He said: “They have a chance of playing in that. It depends on their progress when they come back on July 28th.”
Rooney endured a disappointing World Cup with England, exiting the tournament at the last 16 stage following the 4-1 defeat by Germany. It was an unexpected setback for the player given he had scored 34 goals in all competitions for United last season. Apart from Rooney, Michael Carrick, Patrice Evra, Park Ji-sung and Vidic could all come into contention for the showpiece match in Dublin.
United have a number of injuries with Rio Ferdinand, Gary Neville, Michael Owen, Antonio Valencia, Owen Hargreaves and Anderson all absent from the summer tour.
