Sir Alex Ferguson says Wayne Rooney will be offered a new deal

Rooney, who was surprisingly only a substitute in Tuesday's Champions League clash with Real Madrid, has been the subject of intense speculation about his future.

Ferguson knocked down suggestions United would look to sell Rooney in the summer on Friday, and now he has stressed the club see him in their long term plans.

Former Everton man Rooney is tied to United until the end of the 2014/15 season, so there is no need to sit down for talks immediately.

"There is no issue with the contract," Ferguson said. "When it has to be renegotiated, it will be.

"He's coming to his mature years. He's had a lot of issues this year in terms of illness, injuries and not had a long run of games, but he's still got me 14 goals.

"He'll end up with 20 goals, no doubt about that."

Rooney could return to the starting line-up for Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final clash against Chelsea at Old Trafford.

And Ferguson remains full of praise for the striker, adding: "He got me 32 goals last year. He's had a lot of issues this year in terms of illness, injuries and not had a long run of games, but he's got me 14 goals from probably two-thirds of the appearances of last year.

"He'll get 20 goals, no doubt about that. I've said before, if he gets over 20, Chicharito [Javier Hernandez] over 20 and Van Persie's there just now, we're talking over 60 goals and that's put us right in the ballpark."