Alex Ferguson has hinted he may retire as Manchester United manager in four years' time.

United are due to open contract negotiations with Ferguson over a new deal to replace his current agreement, which expires in the summer of 2000.

Ferguson (57) who has been in charge of United since 1986, has dropped his broadest hint yet that he will step down when he is 61.

"Who knows? I may ride off into the sunset in four years' time," he told the Manchester Evening News.

Ferguson is already by far the longest-serving manager in the Premier League and to stay until 2003 would take him just short of 17 years at Old Trafford.

Ferguson is not the only United figure intent on remaining at the club well into the Millennium. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is determined to see out the remaining five years of his seven-year contract with the Reds, despite West Ham's reported interest in him.

Solskjaer would fill the void at Upton Park left by John Hartson's record £7.5 million move to Wimbledon.

Solskjaer is on the sidelines at Old Trafford and Norway manager Nils Johan Semb has warned him his international career will be at risk if he is not playing regular first-team football.

But Solskjaer, who turned down a £5.5 million move to Tottenham in August, is determined to stay at United and fight for his place.

"If I had been at any other club but United then I think I would have gone to the manager and asked to leave," he said yesterday. "But I want to stay here and win things."

Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole have established themselves as United's main strike pairing, but Solskjaer is prepared to wait for his chance.

"The manager can see that it is a frustrating time for me and he also knows I am determined to get my place back and work for the team," he said.

"If anyone gets injured, and I hope they don't, then I am ready to come on. We want to win things this year and this is the way to do it.

David Beckham has been given the all-clear to play in Sunday's FA Cup clash against Liverpool at Old Trafford.

It had been feared the England midfielder might have missed the fourth-round tie after he limped off with a groin injury during the second half of Teddy Scott's testimonial against Aberdeen on Monday night.

Beckham had treatment yesterday and has been told he can resume training today.

Nicky Butt has also been given the all-clear to play at the weekend after he pulled out of Saturday's game against Leicester suffering from a migraine.