BRYAN Robson has told United not to be held to ransom in their bid to keep Cristiano Ronaldo.

The World Player of the Year is understood to be looking for a new deal in the region of £175,000-a-week.

That would break the club's pay structure overtaking Rio Ferdinand's deal and making Ronaldo the highest paid player in United history.

But while Robson is desperate for the Premier League and European champions to hold on to the Portuguese international, he insists they should not break the bank to keep him.

He said: "You can't let any player hold the club to ransom. He is Player of the Year and rightly so because he has fantastic ability and his goal-scoring record is phenomenal.

"Of course you want to keep him because he is a crowd favourite, but there is a line that you have to draw.

Contract

"If a player is not happy and it is all about money then maybe it is time to move elsewhere.

"It cannot be 100 per cent the agent's way. You have to use common sense, but I would love to see him sign a new contract and help United win the double again."

Ronaldo signed a five-year deal worth around £120,000 a week in April 2007, but that didn't stop him agitating for a move to Real Madrid in the summer.

United always insisted he would not be allowed to head to Spain this season, but there is a common belief he will again seek a switch to the Bernabeu at the end of the campaign.

Confirmation this week, that his agent, Jorge Mendes is seeking improved terms on his United deal, suggests that for the time being he is happy to remain in Manchester, despite making it clear his dream is to play for Real one day.

Robson, who is now an ambassador for United, rejected big money moves to Italy in the peak of his career. Now he hopes Ronaldo will follow his lead and give his best years to the club.

"With the amount of money you can earn nowadays, it's more about where you feel happy and can be successful than having a few extra pounds in the bank," he said.

"When there was talk of Real paying £80m for him in the summer, it was all good and well saying you can buy two or three top-class players with that money, but where do you find one who is as good as Ronaldo?"

Meanwhile, Robson has told Liverpool to forget about wrestling the title away from Old Trafford.

The former United captain is convinced Rafa Benitez' side will be powerless to stop Sir Alex Ferguson from equalling Liverpool's record 18 titles this season. He insists the only team capable of getting in United's way is Chelsea.

Robson knows all about the bitter rivalry between United and Liverpool having had to watch the Merseysiders dominate English football in the 1980s.

Back then he could do nothing as Liverpool swept all before them at and in Europe. But he did eventually lead United to their first title in 26 years in 93. Since then, Ferguson has fulfilled his target of knocking the Scousers "off their perch" - moving to within one title of the Anfielders' haul.

And despite Benitez putting together arguably the best Liverpool squad for 18 years, Robson insists they are still some way short of collecting their first title since 1990.

Instead he sees Luiz Felipe Scolari as the man most likely to stop United from making it a hat-trick of titles.

Strong

"I'm not overly concerned about Liverpool," he said. "The major threat will be Chelsea.

"I feel United will catch up Liverpool and overtake them, but it is Chelsea who look very strong.

"They proved last year what a good side they are in finishing second in league and getting to the Champions League final." Robbo, like Steven Gerrard at Anfield, was his team's talisman, captaining United to three FA Cup victories.

But he believes Gerrard still remains too pivotal at Anfield.

"They rely too heavily on him," said Robson. "If he gets injured or has a dip in form, so will their performances. You cannot dismiss them because they have got off to a decent start. They got a great win at Chelsea, which they deserved and came back strong against us. But you have to say they have been fortunate as well, scoring a lot of late goals and you can't keep doing that."

Despite United sitting eight points behind leaders Chelsea and Liverpool and having lost twice already this season, Robson remains convinced United can win the title for the third year in succession - and do what no other team has managed, and retain the Champions League.

"United may be adrift at the moment, but to play Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal away from home so early in the season was hardly helpful," he said.

"If they win their game in hand they will be five points off the top and all the others will have to play each other so they will drop points.

"They can narrow the gap in the league if they beat Fulham in their game in hand, which will put them in a strong position going into the New Year and we know United always get stronger in the second half of the season.

"They are in a decent position in the Champions League and virtually qualified for the next stage.

"At that level you are playing against the very best, which is why you need certain things to go your way if you are going to win it back-to-back.

"No has ever done it, but it be just like United to be the ones to break that trend. With the strength of their squad there is every chance they can do it."

Robson was speaking on behalf of the Co-operative, where he is a `Good For Everyone' ambassador.

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