RIO Ferdinand has Manchester United over a barrel with his demands for a lucrative new contract.

It might seem the £120,000 a week salary the England international defender is reported to be demanding is asking just a little bit too much. After all, it adds up to £18.7 million for the next three years. That's roughly £17,000 a day!

But the option for United would be equally, if not more expensive.

If they let Ferdinand go, it would take £20 million or so to buy his replacement who would also want upwards of £70,000 a week in wages.

United also have to bear in mind that if Ferdinand went to Chelsea it would strengthen one of their Premiership or rivals as well as weaken themselves as any replacement probably wouldn't be as good.

It's a tough dilemma which is not helped by the difficulty United would have in increasing one player's weekly wage by £50,000 at a time when they are asking their fans to pay 26 per cent more for their season tickets.