Roy Keane is "confident" that he will still be a Manchester United player this season. The Old Trafford captain has already rejected a new contract, prompting speculation that he would be leaving the club.
But the Republic of Ireland international insists the ball is now in the club's court for an improved offer. "I'm confident we can sort it out now but it is up to the club really," said Keane.
"People are speculating about what I am looking for but it is no-one's business except my family and my solicitor's.
"People are always going to speculate all they want but they will never know and that's the way it should be."
Keane told MUTV: "I've just moved into a new house. I have three young children and I love playing for United.
"I could have gone abroad three years ago for a lot more money but I felt I hadn't proved myself at United.
"This time I want to make sure that this contract is right as it may be my last decent contract."
Stephen Hughes joined Fulham on a loan deal from Arsenal yesterday with a view to a permanent move. The 22-year-old midfielder has joined the First Division newcomers on a three-month deal. It is the second high-profile loan signing at Craven Cottage this week after Aston Villa striker Stan Collymore agreed a similar move.
Michael Bridges has denied demanding massive wages from Tottenham after joining Leeds in a reported £5 million deal. The 20-year-old met Spurs officials earlier this month to discuss a possible move to White Hart Lane after being transfer-listed by Sunderland.
But Bridges insists that his rejection of Spurs was just to allow him to speak to other interested parties. "After meeting Spurs, I saw in the newspapers that I had apparently asked for a huge salary," Bridges said.
"However, as I am sure Mr (David) Pleat will confirm, I never made any financial demands - I simply decided to wait and see whether any clubs were interested in signing me and I am glad now that I did.
"I would never take any decision based on money. I have joined Leeds because I believe that they are assembling the best group of young players in the country and I can see us challenging for honours now and for years to come."
Meanwhile, the Leeds manager David O'Leary has spelt out his determination to hold on to Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink who has been the subject of a £10.5 million bid from Atletico Madrid. "If the bid is genuine, I hope it will be turned down," O'Leary said. "If Jimmy is sold, it will certainly be without my consent."
Newcastle boss Ruud Gullit insists he has no hard feelings about Dietmar Hamann after admitting that he had little option but to sell him. The German completed his £8million transfer to Liverpool on Thursday only 12 months into his fiveyear contract at St James' Park, citing his wife's failure to settle on Tyneside as one of his reasons for wanting to leave.
Gullit, who inherited the £4.5million signing from predecessor Kenny Dalglish, claimed he was sad to see Hamann go.
Philippe Albert, who spent a spell on loan at Craven Cottage last year, has completed his £600,000 move from Newcastle to the Belgian First Division side Charleroi.
Everton's manager Walter Smith has been told that he will have to generate his own money for transfers after it was revealed that the club are £30 million in debt. Smith, who has spent only £3 million during the summer on the striker Kevin Campbell, has put Slaven Bilic, Tony Grant, Gareth Farrelly, John Oster, Michael Branch and John O'Kane on the transfer list. "There is a great level of expectation here but the fans have to be realistic," Smith said.
West Ham will be without Marc-Vivien Foe and Ian Pearce as they defend a 1-0 lead in their InterToto Cup thirdround second-leg tie against Jokerit in Helsinki's Olympic Stadium. Trevor Sinclair, Joe Cole and Neil Ruddock are doubtful while the new signing Paulo Wanchope will not play despite receiving his work permit yesterday.
Manchester United's Gary Neville should be fit for England's Euro 2000 qualifiers against Luxembourg and Poland in September after responding well to treatment on his groin injury.
