David Gill braced for busy off-season as Manchester United close on title

Gill will play a leading role in United’s transfer business and there are also other significant issues, not least a new contract for Paul Scholes, that need to be sorted out.

It means Gill will be busy when Sir Alex Ferguson is beginning his annual summer holiday – possibly after guiding United to a record 20th league title.

“The work goes on all year round but obviously intensifies as we come to the end of the season,” Gill told United Review.

“There’s various contracts we’ve got to do, we’ll look at some acquisitions and there will be some players who will leave. It’s an interesting time.”

The most notable players likely to be heading for the exit door are record signing Dimitar Berbatov, who has already been told by Ferguson that United would listen to suitable offers, Michael Owen, whose contract runs out anyway, and Bebe, who is due to return from a loan spell with Turkish outfit Besiktas, with whom he is currently suspended after breaking a club curfew.

Rumours about arrivals are starting to intensify and, although Ferguson solved what appeared to be a weakness in central midfield by calling Scholes out of retirement mid-season, it would be a disappointment to many United fans if the club did not secure at least one reinforcement to ensure there is no repeat of this term’s European performances.

Efforts will be made to persuade French youngster Paul Pogba to sign a long-term deal and a deputy at left-back for Patrice Evra is also required.

The task is made easier by United’s continued presence in the Champions League and winning yet another league title would also provide further proof the Old Trafford outfit are able to compete for the major honours.

It looked as though United would play second fiddle to big-spending neighbours City but a run of 11 wins from 12 games put them in top spot and, although defeat at Wigan nine days ago was a setback, Gill would have taken United’s lead of five points with four games left had it been offered at the turn of the year.

He said: “It’s been an amazing run and it’s going to be a tense end to the season. If we do it, it will be fantastic. This time of year’s not good [for the nerves]. You do get tense but we’ve done very well and are in good shape.”