Ferguson issues new contract warning to Rio

ALEX FERGUSON has warned Rio Ferdinand that his contract stand-off is having a negative effect on Manchester United’s pre-season preparations.

Ferdinand’s agent Pini Zahavi revealed earlier this week that talks over a new Red Devils deal had stalled and there was no immediate prospect of them being resumed.

The England defender has rejected a £100,000-a-week offer to extend his contract, which still has two years to run, and is believed to be holding out for an extra £20,000.

Chief executive David Gill has been unwilling to shatter the club’s wage structure to offer the 26-year-old the additional cash, a stance that has apparently been backed by new owner Malcolm Glazer and the vast United support, who have not forgotten how the club stood by Ferdinand during his eight-month ban for a missed drugs test.

But while Ferdinand, who has insisted he wishes to stay with United, appears willing to let the matter drag on, Ferguson is demanding a quick resolution.

Although he has previously hinted he sees the Londoner as an eventual successor to Roy Keane as club captain, Ferguson has already condemned his £29.1million record signing once, in the aftermath of his player’s infamous evening out with Zahavi and Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon.

That revelation prompted the United boss to demand that Ferdinand, who has also been linked with Real Madrid, sign his contract prior to May’s FA Cup final defeat against Arsenal, a loss which reduced the former Leeds captain to tears.

Instead, the deadline passed without settlement, so, with United’s first pre-season friendly looming at Clyde on Saturday, departure for a four-match trip to the Far East only eight days away and a crucial Champions League qualifying tie pencilled in for August 10, Ferguson has waded in again.

“We want Rio to sign because it puts the whole matter to rest,” he said.

“It has created speculation and an unnecessary agenda we don’t want. Rio has received a fantastic offer, and there is going to be another meeting between his agent and David Gill, which I hope will happen soon.”