Manchester United have opened talks over a new contract for
Patrice Evra. The France international has been a revelation over
the past season-and-a-half after a difficult first six months
following £5million his arrival from Monaco.
Although he was overlooked for last year's FA Cup final, Sir Alex
Ferguson viewed Evra as his first-choice left-back, hastening the
acrimonious exit of Gabriel Heinze during the summer. Having tied
up keeper Edwin van der Sar for an extra year and granted Nemanja
Vidic, who arrived in January 2005 with Evra, an extension which
will keep him at Old Trafford until 2012, United have now turned
their attentions to the full-back, with Ferguson confirming chief
executive David Gill had made the first contact.
"David spoke to Patrice's agents, so he will probably fix up a
meeting with them," he said. Given the enthusiasm he has shown for
life with United, discussions are unlikely to take long and it is
anticipated Evra will end up committing himself to United for a
similar period to Vidic.
Ferguson had previously claimed the left-back area was the one
position where he lacks cover. However, John O'Shea, expected to
fill the right-back berth against Newcastle this evening in the
absence of suspended Wes Brown, has previously occupied the role
with some success.
And, with captain Gary Neville stepping up his comeback fight from
a long-term ankle problem with a reserve team outing against
Everton last Wednesday, Ferguson seems unlikely to venture into the
January transfer market, even though Brown, whose present deal
expires in the summer, is still refusing to sign the
'take-it-or-leave-it' offer made by United before Christmas.