Denis Irwin will reluctantly quit Manchester United if he is not happy with his new contract offer.

Irwin would like to remain at Old Trafford when his current one-year deal expires in the summer and he has already had talks with chairman Martin Edwards about a new agreement.

But the 33-year-old defender knows he could cash in on a lucrative move to another club under the Bosman ruling and he will only resign with United if he is satisfied with the terms offered.

Ideally Irwin, who arrived in a £625,000 move from Oldham in June 1990, would like a two-year contract which would entitle him to a money-spinning testimonial.

The Republic of Ireland international's determination to hold out for the right deal comes in the same week skipper Roy Keane also claimed he might leave if he were not satisfied with his new contract.

"I spoke to the chairman last month and I've been talking to him since so hopefully something will be sorted out," said Irwin.

"Ideally nobody wants to leave here, but as things are being quoted on the back pages, whether it's Roy or me, we both want the right deal to stay. There's a lot of money floating around in football at the moment. Manchester United are a big club and nobody wants to leave it."