Manchester United chief executive Peter Kenyon ruled out on Sunday any plans to sign Ireland winger Damien Duff from Blackburn Rovers.

"Let's kill the Damien Duff story straight away," Kenyon told reporters. "There has been no approach to the club or the player and there won't be. He is due to sign for Chelsea. We are not in for him."

The English premier league champions had hoped to sign Ronaldinho from Paris St Germain but the deal collapsed when the Brazilian opted for Barcelona.

With Ronaldinho and new Liverpool capture Harry Kewell turning United down in the close season, Ferguson is under pressure to make at least one big signing before the Champions League transfer deadline of August 31.

"You have got to be a special player to play for Manchester United," Kenyon said. "We have a strict regime but it produces a winning formula, which is what most players want.

"Players have to balance that with what is on offer at other clubs. You have to ask the question why they want to go somewhere else, and you can take that how you want."

UPSET

Kenyon also said he was upset at criticism from PSG president Francis Graille.

Graille said United had tabled a formal written bid for the player that was lower than previous verbal agreements.

He also alleged United had spoken to the player before contacting PSG and said on Saturday United had offered goalkeeper Fabien Barthez as a makeweight in the deal.

"I am highly disappointed by the comments," Kenyon said.

"We are not arrogant and I am amazed at the insinuation that Barthez was offered in a deal because that is not the way we do them.

"I refute the suggestion we made one offer verbally and went back with a much lower offer in writing.

"We don't conduct our business like that. We have enough standing with European clubs for people to realise that.

"Where we finished up was not a derisory offer and could not have been construed as insulting. If the player had wanted to come to United he would have done so." 

Close

Today's Top News		Top Sports News
+China's richest village: It takes brains and guts ( 2003-08-19) +Relief for indigent college students ( 2003-08-19) +Leaders meet Australian PM ( 2003-08-19) +New security official promises open mind ( 2003-08-19) +Government to rationalize auto sector ( 2003-08-19)		+Beckham is Collina's favourite player ( 2003-08-19) +The goal is unbelievable: Sun Jihai ( 2003-08-18) +Agassi, Clijsters top US Open seedings ( 2003-08-19) +Jamison goes from Warrior to Maverick in nine-man deal ( 2003-08-19) +I can handle the criticism, says Beckham ( 2003-08-19)