‘NO NEW SIGNINGS'

David Gill, Manchester United's chief executive, has said the club have virtually no chance of signing Owen Hargreaves before the transfer window shuts on Wednesday.

Following a board meeting last Thursday, Bayern officials suggested that, though there will be no deal this month, the transfer could go ahead in summer. On Friday Ferguson said he had not given up hope of landing Hargreaves in the next few days, but Gill is more pessimistic.

“I can confirm we are interested in the player and we have been since last summer but at the moment Bayern aren't willing to sell him and we will have to leave it at that,” Gill told BBC Radio Five.

Added to their failure to land Hargreaves, United have fallen behind Spurs in the race to sign Southampton's £10m-rated full-back, Gareth Bale. So it appears likely Henrik Larsson will be the only new face to arrive at Old Trafford this month.

Gill on Larsson staying:

“I know for a fact Alex, Carlos and all the players are very impressed with Henrik in terms of what he can do, his attitude and how he has fitted in. We want great players at the club but we have not really discussed that.

“We are focusing on the next few weeks and we will see what happens. I think it is a bit early, you never say never, but we will go through that nearer the time with Henrik and the club.”