United eye Giggs extension

Manchester United chief executive David Gill is planning on opening contract talks with veteran midfielder Ryan Giggs.

GettyImagesRyan Giggs has continued to perform at a high level despite his advancing years

Giggs, 37, who is closing in on 20 years as first-team player at Old Trafford, is approaching the end of his deal at Old Trafford, but Gill is keen to keep him with the club for another season.
''I wouldn't be surprised if he extends his contract for another season,'' he told the National newspaper. ''That will be addressed in the next month or so. He has been playing well, keeps himself in great shape and is a wonderful advert for the modern footballer.''
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson called Giggs an ''incredible human being'' on Sunday after he made his 600th league appearance for the club against Tottenham.
Meanwhile, Gill claimed it was vital that the club do not lose track of their roots and continue to develop homegrown players such as Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville.
"I don't think we'd ever field a team full of foreigners," he added. "When those great players, who have been part of the team for 15-odd years retire, others will step up.
"Hopefully we'll have players coming through the academy who understand what being a United player means."
Gill also believes manager Sir Alex Ferguson's experience will prove crucial in the run-in for the Premier League title.
Gill said: "In any walk of life the key person is the man at the top. He (Ferguson) has seen it, done it and knows what to do in particular situations. It's one of the strengths of the Premier League, the fact that we do distribute our money broadly. The television rights are sold collectively and distributed according to a predetermined formula.
"That means that there is that sense of competition. Manchester City, obviously, with Abu Dhabi [investment] are improving all the time."

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