Man Utd Offer Keane New 4-year Deal

Manchester United will offer Roy Keane a new four-year deal worth 18 million pounds to keep him at Old Trafford for the rest of his career.

The contract will be unveiled for Keane to consider before the start of next season.

United want to end fears their midfield master and skipper

might leave, following increasingly controversial attacks on his

own team-mates.

The offer will make it clear they are standing by him -- as they did on Sundayin refuting allegations the player has been seeking help for depression at The Priory clinic.

Chief executive Peter Kenyon said: "We think it is a story with no foundation."

Keane, 29, rejected moves to Juventus and Bayern Munich when he

signed a four-year contract two seasons ago. Now United want to

renew that agreement to ensure a key figure in their all- conquering

team stays put.

Keane is currently on 70,000 pounds a week gross.

The club will match that in the new deal, guaranteeing him 14.5 million pounds through to 2005.

But they will also build in a merchandising image rights clause that could net their captain two million more.

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