MANCHESTER UNITED are desperate to stop defender Nemanja Vidic becoming the second superstar to quit the club in a year.
Last summer fans were horrified when Cristiano Ronaldo finally left for Real Madrid, even though United banked £80million for the Portuguese winger.
Now the Old Trafford club are in big danger of losing Serbian centre-back Vidic - maybe also to Jose Mourinho's Madrid.
Vidic, 28, who has two years left on his current deal, was disappointed at not being offered a new contract.
He is on £70,000 a week but central defensive partner Rio Ferdinand commands £110,000.
United always used to offer the players they valued a new deal when they had two years left.
But in a cost-cutting measure under the Glazer's ownership that was reduced to one year, except in the case of Wayne Rooney.
And Vidic's agent has insisted the defender is undecided on his future.
So to smooth relations with Vidic, United are prepared to offer him £90,000 a week in a new four-year contract NOW.
But here in Philadelphia, boss Sir Alex Ferguson has failed to convince anyone Vidic will be a Manchester United player next season.
Ferguson was asked if he could shed any light on the situation with Vidic. But he said: "I can't clarify it at all."
Asked if Vidic will be a Manchester United player next season, Ferguson shrugged and said: "Yeah, I believe so."
His unconvincing response will worry many United fans. New Madrid chief Mourinho wants Vidic to form the defensive foundation of his Real team and is prepared to offer £18m.
Ferguson, too, is ready to put in new foundations and has warned his established stars their places are in jeopardy.
Frontman Danny Welbeck, 19, and midfielder Tom Cleverley, 20, were among the young stars who shone as Philadelphia Union were beaten 1-0 here on Wednesday.
Fergie said: "Some players think they have a position for life then someone comes along and takes their position. That is a challenge for the young players and they should always take it.
"When they go out on loan we know they are young enough to have one year out there and come back better.
"It's a big season for Welbeck. In the last three seasons he's not had a consistent run of games.
"We sent him to Preston and he only ended up playing three games and had an operation on his knee.
"We may put him out on loan again to a Premier League team.
"Cleverley is a very talented boy. He's going to be very good and improved tremendously at Watford last season. We're considering putting him on loan to a Premier League club.
"We're fortunate as we have quite a lot of boys in the 19 to 21 mark like Welbeck, Federico Macheda, Rafael and Fabio da Silva and Ritchie de Laet."