Sir Alex Ferguson has been placed under far stricter financial restrictions than had been anticipated under the Glazer regime. The official line from the new owners was that significant funds were available but, privately,
Despite Joel Glazer's promise that his family were happy to fund "another Wayne Rooney", a different impression was given to Michael Owen's representatives during their talks with the club's chief executive David Gill this week. Rather than adding an £80,000-a-week player to the payroll, it emerged that United are seeking to reduce their wage bill.
To that effect, it has been circulated that Kleberson is available at £2m, while Neville's departure will save the club £10m in wages.
It emerged yesterday that one of United's favoured agents recently contacted Willy Sagnol's representatives to discuss the possibility of his moving from Bayern Munich, but not until the start of the 2006-07 season when the defender will be a free agent.
Similarly, they have been putting in place a deal for Bayern's captain Michael Ballack, who also has only a year of his contract to run. United would rather wait to sign him with the reason for doing so being described within Old Trafford as "saving £8m".