Ferguson: We cannot compete with Chelsea for players

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

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.

“I do not think we would even think about competing with Chelsea,” Ferguson told Century FM.

“If Chelsea go for a player we are interested in, we are not going to beat them, so there is no point even going for him unless, like Park Ji-sung, they are of a mind to join United.

“But any young player wanting to progress his career should think seriously about joining us because, as our record proves, we do give them a chance.”