No competing with Chelsea: Fergie

CHELSEA’S financial stranglehold on the Premiership has been emphasised by Alex Ferguson’s stark admission that there is no point in Manchester United competing for the same players as the Stamford Bridge outfit.

A frustrated Ferguson has seen targets Arjen Robben, Damien Duff and Michael Essien all snub United in favour of Roman Abramovich’s Londoners, while the belief within United circles is that John Obi Mikel’s U-turn over his proposed move to Old Trafford is because he’ been told Chelsea are interested.

Although new owner Malcolm Glazer has pledged to back a major transfer plunge in January, Ferguson knows he will have to sidestep any targets Chelsea identify, which is why he is placing so much faith in his club’s youth system to provide a platform for the future.