Manchester United [Images] manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, intends to stay at Old Trafford for at least three more years. There was a cloud over Ferguson's availibility since Malcolm Glazer's takeover of the richest soccer club early this week.

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Ferguson has confided in colleagues at the club that he plans to remain in charge until 2008 if he establishes a healthy working relationship with the club's new American owner.

According to English daily The Guardian, Ferguson has received indirect assurances from Glazer's son, Joel, that they want him to continue and arrangements are being made for him to meet the 76-year-old sports mogul. Ferguson is said to be open-minded and hopeful that Glazer is not as difficult to work alongside as has been portrayed.

Although Ferguson has expressed reservations about the break-up of the Old Trafford hierarchy, he has taken heart from the preformances of the yougsters like Wayne Rooney [Images] and Cristiano Ronaldo [Images] and has assured the players that, barring unforeseen circumstances, he will be around to oversee 'their best years together'.

The newspaper further said that Ferguson will provide the new owner with his list of possible transfer targets in the summer. Michael Owen [Images], the Real Madrid [Images] and England [Images] international striker, is believed to be on the list and would not come cheap. Shay Given, the Newcastle United goalkeeper, has also been mentioned in the Old Trafford boardroom.

Winger Ryan Giggs recently signed a two-year extension to his contract, which will keep him at Old Trafford until June 2008.

He told the Daily Mirror: "The boss encouraged me to sign and indicated he would be here for at least that length of time.

"He said he wants to stay for a number of reasons. He wants to get United back to the top and to see the likes of Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Darren Fletcher become world-class players.

"The manager also wants to win more trophies and make sure that when he does eventually go, he goes on a high."

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