Premiership: United deny making illegal Vieira approach

Manchester United have rejected Arsenal's accusations that they made an illegal approach for Patrick Vieira.

United chief executive Peter Kenyon has confirmed he did ring Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein to ask about Vieira's availability but denied any wrongdoing.

Kenyon insists the Reds did not approach Vieira without Arsenal's permission.

"I did speak to Arsenal of our interest and that was as far as it went," he said.

"We made it quite clear we were interested if the player were available. I approached the club and that was the correct procedure."

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger claims United approached Vieira without their permission which, if proven, would have been against Premier League rules.

The Gunners said they did not intend to pursue the matter, but Wenger's accusation will do little to help the strained relations between the two clubs.

United manager Alex Ferguson has often clashed with Wenger and Arsenal are unhappy at what they feel was a deliberate attempt by the champions to unsettle Vieira, who they insist is not leaving Highbury.