Wayne Rooney can expect to become Old Trafford's highest paid player when talks for a new deal begin this summer.

Manchester United have taken a calculated gamble by delaying contract talks with Wayne Rooney until after the World Cup. The club runs the risk of the striker increasing his wage demands if he impresses with England in South Africa.

Rooney has two more seasons to run on a contract worth £90,000 a week. A new deal is likely to make him the highest paid player at Old Trafford, ahead of the defender and England captain Rio Ferdinand, who earns £110,000 a week.

United agreed with Rooney's representative, Paul Stretford, not to begin talks until after the World Cup. The club is relaxed about agreeing a fresh deal but could end up being asked to make the 24-year-old the best-paid player in the Premier League, never mind at Old Trafford, if he takes the tournament by storm.

Rooney has had a highly impressive season for United, scoring 34 goals and winning a clean sweep of the club's awards as well as being voted player of the year by the Professional Footballers' Association and football writers.

Yet his contribution looks unlikely to be enough to win United a fourth straight Premier League title. A Chelsea win at home against Wigan Athletic on Sunday would extinguish the hopes of Sir Alex Ferguson's team and Rooney has admitted the players will have only themselves to blame if they finish as runners-up.

"All the top teams have lost games," he said. "If we could have stayed more consistent and not lost so many games we would have won the league. We shouldn't be losing seven games at this club. Other teams have dropped points as well so it has been an open league and we are still with a chance and that is the main thing."