Butt plays waiting game

Unsettled: Nicky Butt

Nicky Butt wants to remain with Manchester United until the growing doubts over Sir Alex Ferguson's future at Old Trafford are resolved.

Although Birmingham made a £5.5million bid for the England midfielder yesterday, Butt has told close friends he prefers to wait until Ferguson's current contract talks are settled before deciding on his next move.

The United manager is still waiting to finalise a two-year extension to his contract, which runs out in 2005. Talks have been on hold while Ferguson is in dispute with John Magnier and partner J P McManus - who increased their stake in United to 25.49 per cent on Monday - over the stud rights of racehorse Rock of Gibraltar.

Butt, who asked for a move last week, will talk to City boss Steve Bruce out of courtesy but is reluctant to leave the champions for a lesser team.

Newcastle, Everton and Liverpool are all watching developments. However, no move is likely to take place until the summer. Former United skipper Bruce hopes the link will boost his chances of landing the 29-year-old, although he rates the chances of getting his man as only '50-50'.

Butt's girlfriend Shelley Barlow gave birth to a girl, Jersey, on Monday and the player is reluctant to move too far from the couple's base south of Manchester.

Any attempt by Chelsea to hijack United's move for Arjen Robben will fail, according to the young Dutchman's father. Hans Robben, who is also agent for his son, is aware PSV Eindhoven have spoken to other clubs, including Chelsea, about the 19-year-old winger but says only two options are viable.

'It is very simple,' said Robben Snr. 'Arjen will play only for either PSV or for United.' Assurances have also been given to Ferguson, who met the father and son three weeks ago when they visited the club's Carrington training ground.

A striker crisis at Arsenal was no nearer to being averted last night after Arsene Wenger was told he will have to wait for Seville's Jose Reyes.

Manager Wenger hoped a bid of £20m, as revealed in Sportsmail on Wednesday, would be enough to land the 20-year-old Spain international during the transfer window but he is unlikely to be released until the summer unless the offer rises substantially.

Sylvain Wiltord, Dennis Bergkamp and Jeremie Aliadiere are injured while Kanu is with Nigeria in the African Nations Cup.

Arsenal have also asked about Feyenoord's Robin van Persie and Barcelona' Patrick Kluivert, who is expected to make a statement about his future today.

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