Man Utd plan pay-as-you-play Hargreaves deal

Manchester United want to restructure Owen Hargreaves' contract.

The Sunday Mirror says Hargreaves will be offered only a pay-as-you-play contract if he wants to extend his stay at Manchester United.

The England midfielder has just 20 months left on his current deal, but United will not enter into negotiations about extending the arrangement until the end of the season.

And in the wake of Hargreaves's two-and-a-half injury-blighted years at Old Trafford, the United hierarchy are unlikely to offer him anything more substantial than a deal comprised of a low basic with bonuses linked to appearances.

Hargreaves is now doing ball work in training following his recovery from surgery to cure a long-term tendonitis problem in both knees.

A United insider said: "When players have a record of injuries the policy has been to offer them a low basic in comparison to the rest of the squad, but with high bonuses linked to appearances.

"That's what happened with Michael Owen and in the past with Wes Brown."

 
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