Summer talks on new deal for Giggs

Manchester United will wait until the summer to sort out Ryan Giggs's contract deadlock.

Giggs, who will win his 50th cap for Wales on Saturday in the World Cup qualifier against Austria, has a contract that is due to expire in 2006. Though a one-year extension has been offered, Giggs is holding out for two.

Chief executive David Gill denied that the 31-year-old is about to sign a three-year deal. He insisted a meeting would be arranged with the player and his adviser, Harry Swailes, in an effort to end the impasse.

Gill said: "There are a number of players we will be sitting down with in the summer and Ryan is among them. We do not want him to leave, Ryan does not want to leave and we are confident we can reach an agreement to extend his stay."

It seems certain any extended deal to keep Giggs with his only professional club will be heavily based on appearances, as Gill battles to keep United's ratio of wages to turnover below 50 per cent.

One man on his way out is goalkeeper Roy Carroll. Gill said: "Roy is out of contract at the end of June and it looks as though he has not accepted the offer we made. Funds will be made available to bring in a replacement."

SHAY GIVEN and Matt Holland both missed the Republic of Ireland's first training session last night ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Israel on Saturday.

Goalkeeper Given is undergoing treatment for a hip injury sustained in training with Newcastle but is expected to be fit. Holland has remained in England to comfort his wife - who suffered an accident which required hospital treatment - but is scheduled to fly out today.