Fergie: Rio ready to sign soon

Despite further newspaper reports regarding Rio Ferdinand and Peter Kenyon today, Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has revealed the club are close to agreeing a new contract with the England defender.

Ferguson hit out at Chelsea after Ferdinand was involved in what was described as a “chance” meeting with Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon on Tuesday.

Ferguson questioned the meeting in a London restaurant and drew comparisons with the Stamford Bridge club’s alleged ‘tapping-up’ of Arsenal’s England full-back Ashley Cole.

But Ferguson is confident Ferdinand will agree a new deal to remain at Old Trafford.

“I don’t think we are far away,” Ferguson told Sky Sports News.

“We have been having good discussions. It’s the same with any discussions, they’re not easy.”