Ferguson rules out move for Lampard

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has dismissed reports linking the club with a move for Chelsea’s Frank Lampard.

United are short of numbers in midfield following several injuries, with striker Wayne Rooney filling in on occasion this season.

But Ferguson insists Lampard is not the solution despite his reported availability due to a seemingly rocky relationship with manager Andre Villas-Boas.

“Do you really think Chelsea would sell to United in January? There’s no foundation in that,” Ferguson said.

“Chelsea want to do something in the second half of the season so they want to keep their best players.”

Ferguson also moved to quash rumours of any signings in the January window, insisting the quality of players available at this time of year is not up to United’s standards.

“What can you get in January? The players we’d like, we can’t get,” he said.

“If the alternative is to sign a second-rate player, we don’t want to do that.”

“Our injuries have led to fans wanting us to sign someone but I don’t want to sign a player who won’t get a game when everyone’s fit because he’s not good enough.”

Meanwhile, Ferguson believes Arsenal and Chelsea are out of the title race unless the current top three of Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham suffer a ‘collapse’ in the second half of the season.

The United boss also remarked on Liverpool’s handling of the Luis Suarez saga, suggesting the Merseyside club had handled the fallout from the racism row poorly.

“It is nice of them to do it through the press,” he said.

“You would have thought they would come to Manchester United first. I do not see why there is any need for it. But I have nothing to say about it.”

Ferguson also spoke about the Premier League situation, where two consecutive defeats have left his side three points behind leaders Manchester City in second place.

“We can say well done to still be there,” he added.

“I can’t see anyone else other than the three top teams winning the league. I think that’s fair to say.”

“The positions that Arsenal and Chelsea are in, they need all three teams to collapse and I don’t think that will happen.”