Manchester: Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson says the club will offer Dimitar Berbatov a one-year contract extension, keeping the Bulgarian striker at the English champions until the summer of 2013.
Berbatov's current deal expires at the end of the season and the Bulgarian had looked set to leave in the summer following a year spent mostly on the sidelines.
However, Ferguson says the offer to prolong Berbatov's stay at Old Trafford will be made in March, the earliest date that his contract can be renewed.
The 30-year-old striker joined United from Tottenham in 2008 in a deal reportedly worth 30.75 million Pounds and has scored 53 goals for the club in 142 appearances.
He hasn't been first choice this season, but recently returned to the team and scored four goals in the last two matches - including a hat-trick at home to Wigan on Monday.
"We'll be exercising [the option to renew Berbatov's contract]. I think it kicks in in March," said Alex Ferguson.
The manager also moved quickly to dismiss reports that Chris Smalling is suffering from glandular fever and could miss several months due to illness.
"I have seen the reports," Ferguson said. "They are well wide of the mark. He has tonsillitis. He had glandular fever as a kid but that's not the case here. He should be ready for the Newcastle game, at least definitely the Manchester City game in the FA Cup. He'll be ready for those games."
"We don't have much changes. Obviously injuries to the defenders are quite a concern now, with Jonny Evans taken off at half-time [against Wigan]. We're hoping Phil Jones will be fit, there's possibly an outside chance that Rio Ferdinand will get on the bench. Other than that, we're the same."
"Hopefully we can keep the momentum going. The form is good and the players are enjoying themselves too."
United have suffered a defensive crisis recently, with Michael Carrick and Patrice Evra paired at the back against Wigan on Boxing Day.
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