Soccer: All down to United, says Sheringham agent

Teddy Sheringham’s agent Barry Nevill claims the onus is on Manchester United in the on-going negotiations over a new contract for the England striker.

Nevill was somewhat surprised by the news yesterday that United had offered Sheringham another 12-month deal.

Nevill claims they made this offer a month ago and that he is now waiting for them to reply to him.

"They offered that deal a month ago, but obviously it’s only now that they have decided to say something about it," he said.

"Nothing has been agreed at all and in fact we’re waiting for Manchester United to come back to us.

"I don’t want to go into details, but I’ve been back to them subsequently and now we’re waiting for them to come back to us."

United have reportedly offered Sheringham £35,000-a-week to stay at Old Trafford next season.

However, Sheringham, who was 35 yesterday, has maintained all along that he feels he deserves a two-year deal.

Sheringham has been a revelation this season and he is United’s leading scorer with 20 goals.

This conflicts with United’s policy on contracts for anyone over 30 and normally the champions only offer one-year deals to players of Sheringham’s age.

Like last year, it appears nothing will be agreed until the end of the season and Sheringham knows he will not be short of offers if he decides to leave on a free transfer in the summer when his present agreement expires.

Nevill said: "Ideally he wants to stay at United. But he’s a free agent at the end of the season, he’s one of the leading goalscorers in the country so I’m sure there wouldn’t be any lack of takers if he goes."