New Veron twist

Sir Alex Ferguson has backtracked from his insistence that Juan Veron will start the new Premiership season with Manchester United.

Ferguson claimed nothing could be read into his decision to leave the Argentinian midfielder on the bench for the 3-1 win over Barcelona in Philadelphia after he had said last Friday that the player was not leaving Old Trafford.

However, when asked outright whether Veron would be part of the United squad for the Premiership opener against Bolton at Old Trafford on 16 August, Ferguson replied: "I can't answer that."

Old Trafford chief executive Peter Kenyon has confirmed United have received a bid from Chelsea for the 28-year-old and he also said that a deal could be concluded by Wednesday.

But it is understood Chelsea's bid is below United's £15million valuation of the player, who cost £28.1m from Lazio two seasons ago. Claudio Ranieri confirmed to Standard Sport that his major target was a player to "link" the attack and midfield to replace Gianfranco Zola and Veron fits that bill.

With Brazilian midfielder Kleberson due to have his work permit application heard on 11 August, United have several potential transfer targets identified. One of those is West Ham striker Jermain Defoe who controversially handed in a transfer request the day after the club were relegated and Ajax's Tunisian right-back Hatem Trabelsi.