Ferdinand closer to new United deal
Wednesday, 1 June 2005 10:39Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has revealed that he is moving closer to signing a new contract with the Old Trafford outfit.
The England international has angered supporters over his apparent reluctance to commit his future to the club, but Ferdinand claims that talks are on-going between the club and his agent Pini Zahavi.
Ferdinand said: "We are still negotiating. I mean, it has been about a month now we have been negotiating and obviously things that have happened in recent weeks have slowed it down a little bit."
"So we are still negotiating and coming closer and closer together."
Earlier, Ferdinand had suggested he was feeling under increased pressure to sign a new contract with United. "Negotiations. Some people take two years; some people take 18 months; some people take a year," he said.
"I am not saying it will take two years. What I am saying is that people take 18 months to sign a contract. I have been given a month and my head is on the chopping board."
United boss Alex Ferguson expressed his desire to have the matter dealt with quickly as far back as April 19. "The best thing Rio can do is sign his contract and put the matter to bed," said Ferguson at the time.
"He says he wants to sign for the club and he has an opportunity to do just that. We have offered him a good deal and hopefully something can be done in the next few days."
