Beckham will stay at United, insists Kenyon

While David Beckham's lips are read for clues and meaning is written into his emotional kick-about with his son on the Old Trafford pitch, the Manchester United chief executive, Peter Kenyon, yesterday said he believed the England captain would not leave.

Kenyon's denial fell far short of being emphatic. "I am sure David will be with us next season," he said. "All this speculation has overshadowed the last few weeks and that's been unfortunate."

Real Madrid's unprecedented move of publicly denying any interest in signing Beckham has not dampened intense speculation that he will be sold in the summer. On Saturday evening's The Premiership programme, Des Lynam and Ron Atkinson attempted to lip read a brief conversation between Beckham and his close friend, Gary Neville, as they acknowledged Manchester United fans after the final home game of the season. Beckham, who appeared to be on the verge of tears, supposedly said: "I've had talks". He had spent the aftermath of the 4-1 victory over Charlton applauding every corner of Old Trafford and then played football with his son, Brooklyn, on the pitch. It seemed like a farewell.

Nobody has subjected Fabien Barthez to the indignity of having his lips read on television but few doubt he will be leaving, his position undermined by a weak performance in the European Cup quarter-final with Real Madrid. Sir Alex Ferguson was swift to state that winning the trophy back was the key objective next season and it is doubtful Barthez is any longer of the high standard required.

The battle for the signature of the Leeds goalkeeper, Paul Robinson, is likely to be a straight fight between Manchester United and Arsenal and although the former have deeper pockets, the Yorkshire club may be reluctant to see another prize asset disappear across the Pennines to an institution most of their fans despise. If so, Southampton's Antti Niemi is likely to be a principal target.

With the futures of Beckham and Ryan Giggs, who has been courted by Internazionale, uncertain, there could be room for multiple purchases. Ronaldinho and Damien Duff have long been linked with United. If Ferguson persists with the tactics of using Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in Beckham's position on the right, an additional striker may have to be found to support Ruud van Nistelrooy, although yesterday Patrick Kluivert insisted he would be happy remaining in a Barcelona side which will not be competing in the Champions' League next season. Harry Kewell, who has yet to commit himself to Leeds, appears an obvious choice.

The most pressing question is the trickier one of where United will be presented with the Premiership trophy. It should logically be handed over on Sunday after United's final match of the season at Goodison Park, but Everton have objected on the grounds that it could interfere with their own lap-of-honour and encourage ticketless United fans to get into Goodison to see the ceremony.

They have offered to stage the presentation either on the pitch 50 minutes after the final whistle when all the home fans have left or in the away dressing-room. The United captain, Roy Keane, who dislikes ceremonies, would not mind this but his supporters and, more importantly, Sky Television, would. The matter will be resolved at a meeting today between Everton and the Premier League.