Manchester United will begin contract talks in earnest with Denis Irwin and Teddy Sheringham after the World Club Championship.

United chairman and chief executive Martin Edwards confirmed last week that the club wanted to offer new deals to the pair, who are out of contract in the summer.

However Edwards admits they are likely to make little progress over the holiday period and instead proper negotiations will begin in mid-January when the team returns from Brazil.

"It might be just a little bit difficult to do anything between now and when the team goes to Brazil so it will probably be when we come back from Brazil that we will talk to them," he said.

Manager Alex Ferguson is keen to keep the two thirty-somethings at United, although they have both been linked with moves away from United on free transfers under the Bosman ruling.

Celtic are reportedly interested in 34-year-old Irwin and the Glasgow giants are set to provide the opposition for his testimonial at the end of the season.

Sheringham, 33, might take more persuading to stay and he has been strongly linked with a move back to his native London and Fulham.

Meanwhile, David Beckham's father insists the England star does not feel he is being shortchanged at Manchester United.

Beckham, who earns well over £20,000-a-week, has been left trailing in the wages stakes by Roy Keane following the United skipper's new blockbusting contract, which is worth a reported £50,000-a-week.

Keane's deal, which has smashed the salary ceiling at Old Trafford, has led to suggestions that Beckham, who signed a five-year contract in August 1998, will demand improved terms.

Beckham's wife, Victoria Adams, has already claimed he deserves a pay rise, but his father, Ted, insists he will not demand more money.

Ted claims his son, who has highly-lucrative sponsorship contracts with Brylcreem, Adidas and most recently with Pepsi, is content at Old Trafford.

"He's more than happy with Manchester United," said Beckham senior.

"As far as I'm concerned and as far as David's concerned, he's happy at United.

"Whatever Roy Keane gets is up to him and his agent who has got it for him.