Rooney: I'm not leaving United
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Manchester United will make Wayne Rooney their highest-paid player on £150,000 a week to fend off interest from Spain and placate their rebel fans.
Rooney, whose four-goal haul in Saturday's 4-0 win over Hull underlined his importance to United, is expected to be offered the new five-year deal within the next few weeks.
Although Rooney still has two-and-a-half years on his current deal, United are ready to hand him a new contract - worth £40m - that matches his status as the club's most influential player.
United are aware of interest in Rooney from Real Madrid and Barcelona, and recognise they must match the kind of wages the Spanish clubs are willing to offer the 24-year-
Rooney has no desire to leave Old Trafford, but all parties agree a new agreement, to reflect his emergence as one of the world's most influential players, must now be struck.
United are also conscious of growing opposition to the Glazers, and the fear among fans that Rooney may be the next big name sacrificed to service the debt, currently £716million.
Cristiano Ronaldo was sold to Real Madrid for £80m last summer, and while Sir Alex Ferguson claims the money is there for him to spend, fans are not convinced that is the case.
The Glazers recognise Rooney's importance in terms of preserving any semblance of harmony they have with United fans, which is why they are happy for the club to discuss a new deal.
United defender Rio Ferdinand could be charged by the FA over an off-the-ball incident involving Hull striker Craig Fagan during Saturday's victory at Old Trafford.
TV cameras showed Ferdinand strike out at Fagan with a blow which felled the forward, but the incident was missed by match referee Steve Bennett.
The FA will look at the incident and decide whether Ferdinand should face retrospective action for lashing out at Fagan, who was booked for his subsequent protests.
Police have demanded United and City players do nothing that could incite the crowd at Wednesday's potentially explosive Carling Cup semi-final tie at Old Trafford.
Carlos Tevez and Gary Neville became involved in an ugly touchline spat, while police confiscated golf balls and darts from some fans, smuggled in as offensive weapons.
Assistant chief constable Ian Hopkins, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "I met with both clubs prior to the first leg and will be doing so again.
"We'll discuss the general crowd behaviour and making sure they [the clubs and players] understand their responsibility not to do anything that is likely to incite the crowd.
"It is going to be a very passionate game on Wednesday. There is a lot at stake for both teams and the fans."