Ferguson: Rooney will be offered new contract

"There is no issue with the contract. When it has to be renegotiated, it will be,' Ferguson said in The Mail on Sunday ahead of United's FA Cup Quarter-Final at home to Chelsea.

British media went into overdrive last week reporting that Rooney would be offloaded by Ferguson after he was left out of the starting line-up for United's biggest game of the season against Real Madrid in the Champions league on Tuesday.

However, on Friday Ferguson dismissed speculation that Rooney's Old Trafford days were numbered, telling reporters: "He will be here next year, you've got my word on that."

Sunday's newspaper reports backed that up as Ferguson came to Rooney's defence and stressed his qualities, having said he was right to leave the forward out of their Champions League last 16, second leg at Old Trafford for tactical reasons.

"We don't want good players to leave. He [Rooney] is the [Paul] Gascoigne, the Bobby Charlton. He's the best English player. He's coming to his mature years," added the United boss.

"He's had a lot of issues this year in terms of illness, injuries and not had a long run of games, but he's still got me 14 goals. He'll end up with 20 goals, no doubt about that."