From optasoccer...
Meanwhile, if The Red Devils fail to entice Ferdinand to Old Trafford, the deposed Premiership champions will step up their interest in Juventus defender Lilian Thuram.
The experienced Frenchman has been a long-standing target of manager Sir Alex Ferguson, with a £15 million offer in the pipeline if their pursuit of Ferdinand is unsuccessful.
Thuram's agent Fabio Parisi confirmed that if United do land Ferdinand, then Thuram would be staying at Stadio Delle Alpi.
Parisi said: "Thuram's future could be decided shortly. Manchester United will either buy him or Ferdinand. "If Thuram doesn't go to United, then he will stay at Juventus because there has been no other interest in him."