LAP DOG MAKES ALL THE RIGHT NOISES

Last updated : 23 March 2006 By Ed

"I'd like to do all the [transfer] business before the World Cup, but it is not always feasible.

"The sooner you do it, the better for the players concerned. The sooner they get into the United family, the quicker they can integrate.

"The manager has recently signed two top-class defenders, we have our midfield situation to sort out, but we have a top-class strike force.

"We are clearly looking for a midfield player or players and let's see what happens there.

"We are confident we can secure the talent we want to bring in.

"If the attitude towards Chelsea is that nobody can and will touch them, then we might as well all give up now. Nobody at United subscribes to that view. We are going to strengthen in the summer and can look forward very positively. It is a very exciting time for the club."

About local players:

"We are making a statement about the true values of Manchester United.

"We love winning trophies and if we had to win them without local players we would. But I don't think that will ever be the Manchester United way.

"As a club, we are in the fortunate position of being able to pay for top talent but we do not want to just go down that route.

"Developing your own players is not only worthwhile, it is also very rewarding and financially, far less risky.

"These players have the club under their skin and while I wouldn't want to compare our philosophy with anyone else's, it is something that has lasted since the 1950s and hopefully, will continue to do so forever more.

Sir Alex Ferguson has always shown he is prepared to blood young players, which is a very positive selling point, as are the facilities we have and the coaches who work in them.

"There are rules and regulations, both from the domestic and international perspective, which clubs have to abide by and as long as they do so, I don't see an ethical problem in signing young players.

"As a football club, it just makes sense to bring a boy in and develop him ourselves, rather than wait for him to get into the first team somewhere else and then having to pay millions of pounds to sign him."