Ferguson calls on Ferdinand to end speculation and sign new contract

As he unveiled his new £2m goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, the man he admits should have been Peter Schmeichel's instant replacement back in 1999, the Manchester United manager warned Rio Ferdinand he is in danger of destabilising the club's entire pre-season programme through his reluctance to commit to a lucrative new contract.

Ferguson believes the 27-year-old has had ample time and opportunity to repay United for their support throughout his eight-month suspension for missing a drugs test and after being photographed with the Chelsea chief executive, Peter Kenyon, before the FA Cup final, throughout a quiet summer at United.

Instead the impasse continues, with Ferdinand's agent, Pini Zahavi, telling The Independent last week that there is no hurry to extend a contract that still has two years left to run. Ferguson, however, insists there can be no distractions at the start of a critical season at Old Trafford and wants the saga resolved before United embark on a pre-season tour of Hong Kong, China and Japan next Wednesday.

Ferguson said: "We want Rio to sign now because it will put the whole matter to rest. All this has done is created speculation and an unnecessary agenda for the club we don't want. Rio has received a fantastic offer and I think there is going to be another meeting between his agent and David Gill, hopefully soon.

"We go to China next week and we want a good pre-season and to be ready for the Champions' League qualifier next month with everyone currently at the club remaining here. That can be solidified by Rio signing his contract and I hope he does."

Gill, the club's chief executive, returns from holiday this weekend to find Ferdinand's contract still high on his agenda. United are believed to have offered their £29.1m record signing £90,000-a-week over the next four years, an increase of £1m a year, only for the defender to demand in excess of £100,000-a-week.

Ferguson, meanwhile, claimed to have found the answer to his goalkeeping problem in the 34-year-old Van der Sar, and would never have had one had he pushed for the then Ajax man's signature when Schmeichel announced his Old Trafford retirement six year's ago. Juventus ultimately beat United to the Dutch international in 1999, leaving Ferguson to unsuccessfully fill the void with Mark Bosnich, Massimo Taibi, Fabien Barthez, Roy Carroll and Tim Howard.

Yesterday he said: "We came close to getting Edwin in 1999. I think if we had stepped forward quicker we would have got him then but we just weren't quick enough. I wish we had got him then though. Now it just goes down as one of those things you regret but you can't look back forever, the important thing is we have got his experience now."

Van der Sar has signed a two-year contract following his move from Fulham but believes he can stay at the highest level for three more seasons. "I don't see this as my last contract in football," he said. "Maybe I will stop with the international team after the World Cup next summer but as long as I stay fit and enjoy my football I can go on."