MANCHESTER UNITED have taken a calculating gamble by delaying contract talks with Wayne Rooney until after the World Cup. The club runs the risk of the striker increasing his wage demands if he impresses with England in South Africa.

Rooney has two more seasons to run on a contract worth €106,000 a week. He will become the highest paid player at Old Trafford, ahead of the defender Rio Ferdinand, who earns €130,000 a week.

United agreed with Rooney’s representative, Paul Stretford, not to begin talks until after the World Cup. The club is relaxed about agreeing a fresh deal but could end up being asked to make the 24-year-old the best-paid player in the Premier League if he takes the tournament by storm.

Rooney has had a highly impressive season for United, scoring 34 goals and winning a clean sweep of the club’s awards as well as being voted player of the year by the Professional Footballers’ Association and football writers.

Yet his contribution looks unlikely to be enough to win United a fourth straight Premier League title. A Chelsea win at home to Wigan Athletic on Sunday would extinguish the hopes of Alex Ferguson’s team and Rooney has admitted they will have only themselves to blame if they finish as runners-up. He said: “If we could have stayed more consistent and not lost so many games we would have won the league but we’ve lost too many games . . . we are still with a chance and that is the main thing.”

Ben Foster has accepted he will have to leave United to revive his career. Given first crack at filling the void created by a pre-season injury to Edwin van der Sar, Foster made two blunders, first in the Manchester derby, when United were only rescued thanks to Michael Owen’s winner in the sixth minute of injury time, then the following month against Sunderland when he was at fault for a Kenwyne Jones goal.

Ferguson has confirmed Jonny Evans is on the verge of signing a new long-term contract.