United linked with double German signing

Alex Ferguson is set to be thwarted in his attempts to sign Owen Hargreaves in the January transfer window but the Manchester United manager may be lining up a double summer swoop from German clubs.

Bayern Munich have insisted the England midfielder will not be sold next month but have hinted things could change in the summer.

Ferguson has also been linked with Germany striker Miroslav Klose, top scorer in the World Cup, who is expected to leave Werder Bremen at the end of the season.

Bayern’s director of football Uli Hoeness said: “Nothing is going to happen during the winter transfer window.

“We have to play Real Madrid in the Champions League and we are not going to weaken the team. We want to go far in the Champions League, we want to catch Werder Bremen and Schalke in the Bundesliga and we need Owen Hargreaves for that.

“If at some point we find someone who can replace Owen who perhaps costs less than we would get for him, then we would maybe think about it.”

Hargreaves, who has not played since breaking his left leg on September 17, is under contract at Bayern until 2010.