Jonny Evans To Sign Long-term Deal?

Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that Northern Ireland defender Jonny Evans is on the verge of signing a new long-term contract with Manchester United.

After spending a couple of spells on loan at Sunderland, Evans has made huge progress in the last two seasons.

Evans has now made 64 first-team appearances for United and has proved himself good enough to stand in for injury-prone Rio Ferdinand.

"Jonny has proved himself," Ferguson told MUTV.

Although there has been no formal announcement from Old Trafford, Ferguson let slip at Tuesday's player-of-the-year awards that Evans has agreed a new deal, which is expected to be confirmed in the coming days.

"He has signed a new contract and helps to provide a good foundation for the club for a long time."

It is not believed Evans has actually put pen to paper yet but it is a measure of how highly the 22-year-old is rated at Old Trafford that Ferguson wanted him tied down to a new deal.

The Belfast-born player is being tipped as a future club captain at Old Trafford.