MANCHESTER UNITED chief executive Peter Kenyon has warned their Premier League rivals’ worst fears are about to come true — Alex Ferguson is likely to sign a new Old Trafford contract.

JOAN LAPORTA was last night elected as new president of Barcelona, clearing the first hurdle in his attempt to sign England captain David Beckham from Manchester United.

MANCHESTER UNITED anticipate no problems in reaching agreement over Alex Ferguson’s new contract - but there may be plenty of others for the Old Trafford board if their illustrious manager’s concerns are proved correct.

LEEDS UNITED’S teenage keeper Scott Carson can expect a frosty reception when he next heads home to Cumbria.

REAL MADRID want David Beckham to return to action next week despite the England captain ruling himself out for five weeks with a fractured rib.

Middlesbrough 0 Manchester United 1

WAYNE ROONEY has admitted a second successive season without a trophy would be unacceptable for Manchester United.

RAY PARLOUR believes Arsene Wenger has taken Arsenal “100 years forward” as he hailed the current side as the best team he had ever played in.

ARSENE WENGER insisted he would not swap Highbury for the Bernabeu as he warned the Barclaycard Premiership that the best of his record-chasing Arsenal side was yet to come.

DARREN FLETCHER has admitted it is imperative Manchester United do not finish below second spot in the Premiership this term.

MANCHESTER UNITED believe they have unearthed the new Paul Scholes after confirming the capture of Liam Miller from Celtic.

IAN HARTE will be suspended for three first-team matches after being sent off for violent conduct in a reserves match.

FRANCE striker Louis Saha last night warned his compatriots they will find Ireland a much more difficult proposition in upcoming World Cup ties if his Old Trafford team-mate Roy Keane is in the team.

REAL MADRID president Florentino Perez insists the club have not discussed the possibility of signing Roy Keane and will leave any transfer talks until the winter break.

ARSENAL and Manchester United have retained their place among the elite group of top seeds for this season’s Champions League despite a shake-up in UEFA’s seeding system.

MANCHESTER UNITED captain-in-waiting Rio Ferdinand has admitted he would be stupid to turn down the skipper’s armband at Old Trafford.

REAL MADRID president Florentino Perez says the Primera Liga giants will make €138m from marketing this year and will outstrip Manchester United as the most valuable brand label in world sport.