The Premier League leaders have reached an agreement in principal with the England midfielder, who will be rewarded for his fine form with a contract worth £80,000-a-week

EXCLUSIVE
By Greg Stobart

Manchester United have reached an agreement in principal with Michael Carrick for the midfielder to sign a new two-year contract at the end of the season.

The former Tottenham man will be rewarded for his fine form this campaign with a deal worth £80,000-a-week that could include the option of a further year extension.

Carrick’s deal expires in 2014 and United will now formalise their offer for the 31-year-old in the summer.

“It’s more or less agreed in principal, the talks have been very easy because the player is very keen to stay at United,” an Old Trafford source told Goal.com.

“There has been some interest from other clubs but nobody is anticipating any problems and he will sign a new deal in the summer.”

The likes of Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes have signed a series of short-term contracts in their 30s as Sir Alex Ferguson operates a policy of not offering long deals to players approaching the end of their careers.

Sir Alex recently praised Carrick’s recent performances for United, with the former Tottenham man playing a key role in the side establishing a nine-point lead at the top of the Premier League.

“I think he’s been magnificent,” the Scot said last month. “He’s doing absolutely brilliantly.

“It is his best-ever season at the club and he’s commanding that position.”

Since joining United from Spurs in a deal rising to £18.6 million in 2006, Carrick has gone on to make almost 300 appearances for the club, playing in over 40 matches in each of his six full seasons to date as he continues to be one of the first names on the team-sheet.

He has won four Premier League titles, the Champions League, a Club World Cup and the League Cup during his time with the club to date.

Follow Greg Stobart on