UNITED IN TRANSFER RACE

United will launch a desperate 72-hour search for a goalkeeper if they qualify for the Champions League.

The Reds' senior keeper department is down to one fit experienced player in Roy Carroll. Number one Fabien Barthez's hip injury is an increasing cause for long-term.

"It's a delicate injury to the hip joint," Ferguson said. "He has been doing gym work and taking part in training sessions as an outfield player. But we're not asking him to dive yet because the risk is too great.

"If we qualify for the Champions League then we have three days to do something about it depending on how he is."

Targets are being kept up the Reds' sleeves but they have been linked with Fabian Carini of Juventus. The Italian club want to loan the goalkeeper out but have already seen one attempt to do such a deal with Arsenal fall through.

Derby County, who need to sell for funds, could cash in by letting United take their giant Estonian Mart Poom.

Tottenham's Neil Sullivan has been ousted between the sticks at White Hart Lane by Glenn Hoddle's new first choice American Kasey Keller and the experienced Scottish international would also suit Old Trafford's needs.

Meanwhile the transfer of Escude is still being dragged out:

"There is still no agreement," a spokesman for Rennes said. "We don't want to sell, while Manchester United don't seem to have the money."