Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that Manchester United are set to offer new contracts to Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes.

The veteran duo have become part of the furniture at Old Trafford over the years, having spent their entire careers to date with the Red Devils.

They are now set to be offered the opportunity to prolong their association with the club even further by penning fresh terms.

Giggs, the reigning PFA Player of the Year and latest member of the Premier League 100-goals club, will be rewarded for a number of performances which belie his years.

Scholes, who is also entering the twilight of his distinguished career, will also be awarded a new deal despite passing his 35th birthday.

Ferguson is convinced that the pair can still do a job at the highest level and is determined to tie them down for a further 12 months.

“Ryan will be offered a new contract for next season, which is an indication of what we think of him coming up to 37 next season, and Paul knows he will be offered one as well,” Ferguson said.

Both Giggs and Scholes have seen their first-team opportunities limited of late in an effort to save their ageing legs for the games that matter most.

Ferguson, though, continues to be amazed by the level of performance they put in and believes they are capable of going on for some time yet.

Humility

“Ryan is an example to young people,” said Ferguson.

“He has humility and he has never changed and I think he is having his best years now.

“He has retained that amazing quality in his game and also an enthusiasm to play.”

He added: “I spoke to Paul and he said he didn’t actually say he was thinking of his future.

“When you get to that age every player starts to think about what the future holds for him.

“But when you see Paul’s performances at West Ham and in Wolfsburg last week there is no reason to think he can’t do it again next year again.

“Maybe he thinks he should be playing every game. That’s fine, but I know that’s not fair.

“We want the quality. We want to see Scholes perform like he did on Tuesday and the best way of doing that is to gauge the games we know he is going to dominate.”

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Liverpool’s mouth-watering encounter with Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday is the pick of this weekend’s Premier League fixtures, and you can catch all the action live on Sky Sports 1 & HD1 from 3.30pm.

Last season’s corresponding meeting was arguably the game of the 2008/09 campaign as the pair shared a topsy-turvy 4-4 draw. Sharing the points this time around would do neither manager any great favours as each team aims to gain a significant mental fillip ahead of a congested festive programme.

Elsewhere, Aston Villa make the trip to champions Manchester United, Chelsea are aiming to bounce back against Everton, Tottenham Hotspur tackle Wolverhampton Wanderers, Manchester City head to North West neighbours Bolton Wanderers while bottom-of-the-table Portsmouth meet Sunderland.

Rafa Benitez’s theory that the end of Liverpool’s torrid UEFA Champions League journey could reignite their domestic campaign will be put to the test on Merseyside at the weekend. A midweek defeat to Fiorentina capped off a forgettable European campaign, although there were positives to take as Fernando Torres made a cameo and Alberto Aquilani made his first start for the club. Arsenal should be energised for the clash, after Arsene Wenger rotated on Wednesday. All eyes will doubtless be on Andrey Arshavin after his incredible four-goal haul in this fixture last term, while a win for the Gunners would do much to repair the damage of their recent back-to-back losses.

Chelsea’s slip last weekend has put Manchester United within touching distance of the league leaders. With this in mind, Sir Alex Ferguson will have his troops 100 per cent focused on professionally disposing of Aston Villa. But defeating Martin O’Neill’s men should be no easy task. The fifth-placed outfit are unbeaten in four games and their boss could opt to again utilise the in-form James Milner centrally – a move which proved hugely effective against Hull City. Yet Villa have never won at Old Trafford in the Premier League, while the Red Devils have lost just one of their previous 31 top-flight games on home soil. This should make for an intriguing match-up.

Table-toppers Chelsea were brought back down to earth with a bump when they were undone by Manchester City at Eastlands. And, having been denied during midweek in the Champions League, Carlo Ancelotti’s side have failed to win any of their last three matches – not quite a crisis, but still unthinkable just a week or so ago. However, the Blues boast an imposing record versus Saturday’s opponents Everton: they are unbeaten in their last 23 games against the Toffees in all competitions. Furthermore, Chelsea have not conceded a league goal at Stamford Bridge for 10 hours and two minutes. Yet David Moyes could be optimistic of coming away from the capital with something to show for his side’s efforts, with last weekend’s late draw versus Tottenham likely to have lifted spirits. Also, there is a possibility that Michael Essien’s four-week absence through injury could hurt the Blues even further.

Incredible

Tottenham’s throwing away of three points at Everton last weekend saw them remain fourth in the table, but victory over Wolves on Saturday will ensure they leapfrog North London rivals Arsenal into third, until at least Sunday afternoon. Harry Redknapp will be concerned at the manner in which his Spurs team folded, but will be hopeful of a response versus struggling Wolves. However, Mick McCarthy’s men, who sit in the relegation zone, are in decent spirits having won their first match in nine attempts. The subplot of the clash will be Robbie Keane facing the club where he started his career, but the main storyline centres around the search for a vital three-point haul.

Manchester City finally ended their incredible run of draws, and in some style, as they overcame Chelsea last Saturday to restate their ambitions of competing with the division’s ‘big four’. And victory in their meeting with Bolton Wanderers could feasibly see City climb to fourth in the table, come the end of the weekend. For Bolton, to say that that their manager Gary Megson is under pressure would be an understatement. The team is not performing well, having lost five of their last seven matches. Their form at home has been disastrous while the hunt for a first clean sheet of the campaign goes on. However, Megson can possibly take heart from City having not scored in their last four Premier League trips to the Reebok Stadium. It is but a crumb of comfort for the Trotters.

Portsmouth ensured they did not become stranded at the foot of the standings after Avram Grant recorded his first win in charge last weekend. Next they travel to an out-of-sorts Sunderland side, who invariably perform better at the Stadium of Light than on their travels. Sunderland’s unpredictable form has seen them steadily slip to 10th in the table, while, similar to their opposition, goals have been an issue of late, having scored just once in their previous four fixtures. And the head-to-head record favours the visitors, who have won their last three clashes with the Black Cats.

Stoke City and Wigan Athletic face one another on Saturday lunchtime, live on Sky Sports 1 & HD1. It remains to be seen if James Beattie will start versus the Latics, following his row with manager Tony Pulis and fitness concerns. However, Pulis could sure be tempted to include the striker, who has scored two goals in three Premier League games against Wigan. Despite much praise directed in Pulis’ direction for the job he has done this term and some criticism in Roberto Martinez’s, only three points separate the two clubs. Stoke are arguably favourites, what with their home advantage, while we all remember what happened to Wigan the last time they left Lancashire in search of success.

Birmingham City have surprised most with their excellent form. Alex McLeish’s side are currently unbeaten in six games while they are seeking a fourth straight win. Should they achieve said feat then they will match their best ever Premier League run. Prior to the start of the season, one would imagine this would have been a fairly routine test for Gianfranco Zola’s West Ham United. Yet, the Hammers are struggling, with their balance between defence and attack yet to click. Away from home, too, they have been poor, having won just two of their last 12 games on their travels and none of the last six. The Hammers will know that defeat is not an option when considering their precarious position in the table.

Lastly, Hull City host Blackburn Rovers at the KC Stadium. The bubble Phil Brown had huffed and puffed to inflate was somewhat deflated by their defeat at Aston Villa. But a return of eight points from a possible 15 is not form of a side heading for the Championship. Blackburn may not have lost either of their last two games, in one of which they held Liverpool, but the fact remains that the goals have dried up. Rovers have failed to hit the back of the net in their previous three outings. Success for the Tigers would prove a huge boost to their survival push, but Blackburn are unlikely to roll over without a fight, in the knowledge they can put some distance between themselves as the danger zone.

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Sir Alex Ferguson has ruled out a deal to bring veteran defender Sol Campbell to Manchester United in January.

Campbell was linked with a shock move to Old Trafford earlier this week to solve United’s current injury problems in defence.

Patrice Evra was the sole fit defender available for United’s UEFA Champions League win at Wolfsburg on Tuesday, and only Nemanja Vidic is expected to be back for Saturday’s game against Aston Villa.

With John O’Shea and Jonny Evans definitely out until the New Year, and no date set for Rio Ferdinand’s return from injury, Campbell was mooted as a stop-gap signing.

However, Red Devils boss Ferguson has been left surprised by the link and says he has no plans to add the 35-year-old, who had expressed an interest in the move, to his squad.

“I don’t know where this came from, but it is all wrong,” said Ferguson.

“Sol Campbell was a great player, but he is not a player we are thinking about getting to come to United.”

Campbell has been training with former club Arsenal of late after leaving Notts County in September just weeks into a five-year contract with the League Two club.

He had made just one appearance for County and has since been linked with a move to Newcastle United as he waits to secure a new club for January.

Money is there

Ferguson also denied reports that he lacks the funds to make major signings, despite bringing in 80million from the summer sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid.

He added: “It has been said I do not have the money. But the money is there if I wanted to use it.

“I didn’t see any value in the summer and I don’t see any value at the moment either.

“I am happy with the players I already have at the club.”

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Sir Alex Ferguson has reiterated that Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster will not be leaving the club on loan in January.

Foster has been tipped to join another Premier League club for the second half of the season in order to boost his prospects of claiming a place in England’s World Cup squad.

Sunderland and Tottenham have been linked with the 26-year-old, who started the season as first choice while Edwin van der Sar was injured.

However, during Van der Sar’s latest injury absence, Poland international Tomasz Kuszczak has been preferred between the posts by United boss Ferguson.

It has led to suggestions that Ferguson is prepared to let Foster go out on loan in January, but the Red Devils chief has no plans to sanction a move.

“Nothing is going to happen with Ben,” said Ferguson. “He is here and this is where he stays.”

Edwin wait

Meanwhile, Van der Sar is due to return from injury in a week’s time and Ferguson also expects to soon hear from the 39-year-old Dutchman regarding his future plans.

Van der Sar’s contract expires at the end of the season and there have been reports that the keeper will delay retirement for one more campaign.

Ferguson added: “Edwin usually comes to us around this time and tells us what he wants to do.

“It generally comes in the form of a telephone call from his agent to (chief executive) David Gill, but we have not received it yet.

“At the moment Edwin has an injury, but it is not serious and he could be ready for next week.”

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Sir Alex Ferguson has claimed that ‘never in a million years’ did he expect Mark Hughes to make the step up into management.

The Manchester United boss was at the helm of the Old Trafford outfit while the Manchester City manager was on the Red Devils’ playing staff in his days as a marauding forward.

The Welshman has gone on to carve out a successful career in the dugout with spells at the helm of his national side, Blackburn Rovers and now City.

Hughes is the envy of many Premier League managers given the vast riches at his disposal as he is charged with the task of turning the Eastlands outfit into a Premier League force.

City are targeting a top-four finish this season and will face their bitter rivals in the two-legged Carling Cup semi-finals early next year.

That will pit veteran boss Ferguson against Hughes once again, with the Scot surprised at which of his charges have made a success of coaching.

Difficult

He told Inside United: “It’s difficult to assess that because you don’t know what ambitions the players have.

“Currently we’ve got (Ryan) Giggs, (Paul) Scholes and (Gary) Neville taking their coaching badges. That’s great and I encourage them to do that because it gives them a platform if they want to stay in the game.

“It can be difficult to pinpoint who would make it as a manager.

“For instance, nobody here thought Mark Hughes would become a manager, never in a million years, and we all thought Bryan Robson was a certainty to be a top manager.”

Ferguson is still unsure as to who poses the greatest threat to United’s bid for silverware this season, with both City and Chelsea boasting vast financial resources.

He added: “It’s difficult to say with so much money coming into the game. Manchester City have millions, Chelsea have money and you can’t count out anyone.

“You don’t know where the next deluge of money’s going to come from. You just have to say, ‘Here’s another challenge.’ We won’t be afraid of it.”

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