Ferguson: There is no spending limit

Sir Alex Ferguson has insisted his annual transfer budget has not been capped at £25million by Manchester United owner Malcolm Glazer.

Documents circulated at the time of United's major refinancing deal last summer indicated the Glazer family had set aside £25million per year for new players, with an additional £25million 'superstar' fund should a star name become available. Although no-one from the Glazer camp has verified the figures, the reports contain such detail it is difficult to believe they are not true.

However, the Red Devils chief is adamant the internal process for recruitment has not changed since the days when Martin Edwards was chairman. He said: "It is nonsense. There is no figure from the Glazer family. We are operating the same way as we always have done. If we are after a player we present the case to David Gill and the Glazers as I would have done in the past with Martin Edwards or the PLC board. The process is exactly the same as it always has been."