Manchester United are ready to reward Tom Cleverley’s remarkable progress – by doubling his wages just ONE year after his current contract.
By David Maddock
Talks are now underway to bring the England midfielder’s salary into line with some of the superstars at the club, after he confirmed his status as one of the most exciting young players in the country with a string of superb performances.
Cleverley is now a fixture in the England team, and is seen as a key part of Sir Alex Ferguson’s new-look United side as he looks to create a team that can dominate the Premier League for the next decade.
Crucially, the 23-year-old has begun to show the goals instinct that his manager has been hoping to see, and with his pivotal role in the United team, the Old Trafford board accept the player will demand a bigger deal.
He is currently on around £40,000 a week after signing a contract at the start of last season, but that was before he made any impact in both the Premier League or on the international stage.
Now though, Cleverley can expect to double his money, to reflect his status at the club… even if that will still leave him a long way short of some of the top earners at Old Trafford, such as Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie, who command more than twice that figure.
Ferguson has made no secret of the fact he sees the midfielder as the man to take up the mantle of Paul Scholes, and he will use this season to establish the passing of the baton from the veteran to the young pretender.
Cleverley has over two and half years left on his current contract but, given his impact on the international stage, United will not let it run down much further.
They are hoping to thrash out terms to improve the deal before the turn of the year.
Speaking recently, Ferguson explained the player’s importance to the club when he said: “He is very mature in what he does because he’s got a fine footballing brain, and there’s no doubt he’s one of the biggest prospects in the English game.”
