Laurent Blanc is unlikely to play for Manchester United again after being told by Alex Ferguson he no longer figures in the manager's first-team plans. After supporting Blanc against his critics over the past 18 months and persuading him to sign for another season last summer, Ferguson has decided that, at 37, he is no longer equipped for the demands of the Premiership and the Champions League.

Now Blanc will only play if United have injury or suspension problems, with John O'Shea, Gary Neville and Mikael Silvestre providing cover for his first-choice centre-back partnership of Rio Ferdinand and Wes Brown. Blanc last played for United in the FA Cup win over Portsmouth on January 4th and has not appeared in the league since the 3-1 defeat at Middlesbrough on St Stephen's Day.

Ferguson has mooted the idea of Blanc taking a coaching role at Old Trafford when his contract expires. Talks will be held at the end of the season and Blanc has given a guarded welcome to the possibility.

Meanwhile, Ferguson believes Roy Keane's new midfield role for the club could extend his playing career. Keane (31), has been playing in a deeper position in front of United's defence since returning from major hip surgery on December 22nd - a change from the rampaging box-to-box style for which he was previously known.

"That Roy Keane is gone," Ferguson told the Manchester Evening News. "We don't need the old Roy Keane. Not at that age, because he is never going to last. If you keep asking him to run from box-to-box, you are not going to get it. Now he can pick his moments. He can drive forward at the right time, when the space is in front and he has someone around him.

"Roy was always a box-to-box player. He depended on his running ability and power. He is obviously a tremendous player in terms of passing the ball and tackles. He's good in the air, quick to see things and read the game - but you can't keep on doing that. He has simply assessed himself properly.

"He has to do that if he wants to play all the games. He can bring a new dimension to his career by doing what he is doing. He has another three years left on his contract and I think he will get through that no problem. If his hip is okay he could play until he is 36 or 37."

United shrugged off transfer talk yesterday linking Ryan Giggs with Italian side Inter Milan. Inter president Massimo Moratti confirmed on Sunday his club would table a bid for the Welsh winger this summer. But United chief executive Peter Kenyon said they were more interested in their Champions League encounter with Juventus tomorrow night.

"It's too soon to say whether we would even consider a bid, and all we want to do at the moment is concentrate on this season," he said.

Ferguson refused to answer a question on the issue.