Manchester United chief executive David Gill has revealed that
he expects Paul
Scholes to quit the game at the end of the season.
Scholes got his hands on a tenth Premier League title on
Saturday after coming on as a second-half substitute in United's
1-1 draw at Blackburn.
The 36-year-old is out of contract in the summer, and while
Sir Alex
Ferguson is keen to see him sign on for another year, Gill
admits he would not be shocked if Scholes decided to hang up his
boots at the end of the season.
"It wouldn't surprise us if Paul Scholes retired," Gill told
BBC Radio 5Live. "At the end of the season, he will have a
conversation with Sir Alex about that. I am sure he will let us
know his decision and we will respect it. He has been a brilliant
player for many years."
Scholes is not the only player whose future at Old Trafford lies
in the balance. With defender Wes
Brown and Michael
Owen likely to leave in the summer, the likes of Wesley
Sneijder and Ashley
Young have been linked with a move to United.
Edwin
van der Sar's impending retirement has seen United linked with
Ajax's Maarten Stekelenburg, Atletico Madrid keeper David de Gea
and Schalke's Manuel
Neuer. Gill refused to name the club's top target.
"We know the keeper we want," said Gill. "We are in a good
situation with that and it will progress at the end of the season.
It is not as though it is a surprise that Edwin is retiring.
"We have been associated with all the top goalkeepers in Europe
for the last six to 12 months. We have made the decision and I am
sure we can get the deal done."