David and United are still poles apart

David Beckham's Manchester United future was left hanging in the air last night after contract talks with the Old Trafford club appeared to reach an impasse.

While the England skipper reiterated his desire to extend his spell at United, chief executive Peter Kenyon made it clear the club does not intend to raise its latest contract offer.

Although it is believed that Beckham and his advisers are happy with reputed wages of £80,000 a week, the 26-year-old's camp are demanding that a deal for image rights - which could be worth up to £5million a year - is written into the new contract.

That, though, remains a significant stumbling block and, while Kenyon talked in positive terms of his hopes that Beckham will stay, it appears the player has been presented with a take-it-or-leave-it offer.

Kenyon said: 'We've been in discussion with David and his agents for several months and they have been pretty extensive. We want him to stay and he wants to. We're all hopeful.'

Beckham, however, suggested that hope may be in vain. He said: 'At the moment I'm in contract talks with Manchester United. I'm under contract there for the next 18 months. I don't think it's fair to go into any details. All I can say is that I don't think it will be sorted out before Christmas, as we wanted, but hopefully it will get settled.

'I've been at United all through my career and I'm happy there. I know that the fans know my heart is there. They watch me play, day in, day out. It's not the fans who need convincing.'

The suggestion was that the United board - not represented in Zurich, though Real Madrid president Florentino Perez and general manager Jorge Valdano accompanied Luis Figo and Raul - may be the ones who need convincing.

Beckham denied his future was utterly dependent on United's choice of the man to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson - even if it will play a part in his decision.

He added: 'The new manager is important, but not as much as people have said. It wouldn't stop me signing a new contract.'

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