United play cool as Saha turns up the heat

MANCHESTER UNITED are prepared to bide their time before taking another plunge for outspoken French forward Louis Saha.

The 25-year-old's future at Fulham has become highly problematic after he accused the Cottagers management of acting dishonestly in not allowing him to leave for Old Trafford.

Such is the ferocity of his latest outburst, in the French newspaper Le Parisien, that it would not come as a huge shock if he was omitted from the squad to face his old club Newcastle at St James' Park on Monday.

Not content with slating his employers, Saha has also threatened them financial damage by claiming he will refuse to leave until his contract has expired if he is not allowed to quit the London outfit immediately.

United have refused to become embroiled in the row last Friday Alex Ferguson insisted his club had acted properly in privately lodging an official bid for his number one transfer target earlier in the month.

But it is now obvious to all concerned that an offer approaching the £10m mark would be enough to secure the 15-goal striker.

"Fulham are not honest," said Saha.

"The club's managers keep changing their opinion. One day they say yes to a transfer and the next day they say no. They think I am an object.

"The club say they would rather sell me in six months' time but I am fed upnow.

"Either I leave now or I am staying at Fulham until the end of my contract, which finishes in 2006.

"If Fulham love me that much they are going to have to cope with me until the end and then I will leave them for zero euro."

Talk of Chelsea's interest has been shrugged off inside Old Trafford as an attempt by Fulham to drive the price up for an eventual sale but with Saha so keen to move, United know they hold most of the aces.

They can afford to play the waiting game knowing Saha is cup-tied, the earliest he could possibly make his debut is on January 31 when Southampton visit Old Trafford.

It gives Ferguson a fortnight to move in for the kill, by which time the price should have settled to a level United are willing to meet.

Chief executive David Gill certainly has no intention of getting involved in the kind of protracted transfer saga which eventually saw Ronaldinho turn down a move from Paris St Germain in the summer.

Saha is confident that won't occur: "I feel that the road which leads to Old Trafford is about to open."

For this week at least, United officials are more concerned about reaching a final decision over whether Rio Ferdinand should appeal against his eight-month drugs ban.

Ferdinand has until Monday to inform the Football Association of his intended course of action, although the indications are that an announcement will be made some time over the weekend.

Club director and solicitor Maurice Watkins initially claimed an appeal was "inevitable" but speculation is growing that Ferdinand will accept the punishment.