Premiership: Utd prepared to splash out to keep Beckham

Manchester United chief executive Peter Kenyon has admitted the club will have to pay the top rate to keep David Beckham at Old Trafford.

The England captain reportedly wants as much as £100,000-a-week to sign a new contract with United.

United may baulk at the thought of paying anyone more than £5m-a-year. Kenyon concedes that market forces are driving up players' wages, and that Beckham will command a top salary.

"The market is moving and that is one of the biggest issues that faces everybody," he said.

"It's market forces which will determine the value and obviously players like David will command the top value."

United opened negotiations with Beckham and his advisers in May. His present deal worth around £28,000-a-week expires in June 2003.

Kenyon claims talks are progressing well and that both sides are not that far apart. He is confident Beckham will agree a new deal and commit his future to United.

"We have had a great relationship over the last 10 years with David and we certainly want him to stay," he said.

"And I think David wants to stay so hopefully soon we will conclude a new deal which will keep him at Old Trafford.

"I don't think we are that far apart and I think it's a question more of process. It's got to be the right deal for both parties to enable him to continue his career at Manchester."

Kenyon claims it is vital for United that the club holds on to high-profile players like Beckham.

"All our business activities come from our success on the field so it's important that we have players of David's calibre because ultimately that's what drives all our other businesses," he said.