Manchester United chairman Martin Edwards will not be opening new contract discussions with star midfielder David Beckham until next summer.

Beckham, one of the few England successes during Euro 2000, has attracted a host of admiring glances.

AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi is the latest leading figure to express his interest in a player whose fee would dwarf the previous highest straight-cash deal which took Christian Vieri from Lazio to Inter Milan for £31 million.

The Italian club have insisted that they spoke to Old Trafford chief Alex Ferguson about a possible transfer, although that has been contradicted by Edwards. What is clear, though, is that Beckham will not be moving on - at any price.

Meanwhile, Denis Irwin has hinted he would leave Manchester United if he lost his first-team place.

Irwin, who has been United's regular leftback during his 10 years at Old Trafford, claims he could not bear to watch from the sidelines.

Irwin, who will be 35 in October, has no intention of leaving Old Trafford just yet. He signed a new one-year contract with the Premier League champions in the summer and is determined to hold on to the left-back spot.