Premiership: Duo can keep Becks at United - Kenyon

Manchester United believe the arrival of £47.1m of world-class talent this summer will convince David Beckham to sign a new long-term contract.

And chief executive Peter Kenyon reckons the deal could be completed by the beginning of the new season.

United are negotiating with Beckham over a new five-year contract, believed to be worth around £100,000 a week, the last of the major re-signing deals the club have been successfully working on this summer alongside the captures of Juan Sebastian Veron - concluded with a £28.1m price tag today - and £19m man Ruud Van Nistelrooy.

And Kenyon said: ‘‘But I think it signals to David that having brought in quality players like we have done with Veron and van Nistelrooy, that Manchester United is just as hungry for success as he is.’’

Kenyon considers it is not too optimistic to view the opening day of the season as the time that Beckham’s new deal will have been agreed.

He said: ‘‘We have said all along that we want to get most of these negotiations done in the close season and that’s still our intention.

‘‘We have already had a couple of meetings and we are hopeful. We want David to remain a Manchester United player and I’m sure David wants to do that. But it will take what it takes.

‘‘If we can do it by the start of the season we will be delighted. But if it takes longer than that, that’s what it will be.

‘‘We are confident, you have to be. You always enter into any negotiations like these feeling confident.

‘‘We have had a couple of meetings and we are not at a stage where there has been any rejection or any acceptances. We are at an early stage.’’