Man Utd boss Ferguson: We did best among title rivals on day

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was upbeat after their 0-0 draw at Aston Villa.

The manager told MUTV: "Obviously we haven't taken advantage (of other results), but in context of the difficulties of the three teams we're talking about - Liverpool, Chelsea and ourselves - I think we're the team that's had the best result today.

"At the end of the day I'm satisfied in the effort the players made. It was a very determined and aggressive Aston Villa team. They really set out to make it difficult for us, but we handled that well. Today has proved that Aston Villa are a much-improved side with a lot of consistency about them, and I really think they could be in the top four."

The United boss felt that his side had done enough to warrant all three points, but reserved praise for the way Villa defended resolutely to keep United at bay.

"It was a great effort against a very determined Aston Villa team who defended for their lives, and you saw towards the end of the match that they were just hanging on," he said.

"We created the chances in the game, Villa didn't really have any. Wayne and Ji-sung Park both had good chances. Our possession was good and we had so much pressure, but in fairness to them they hung in."

Ferguson: Crazy to let Welbeck leave Man Utd on-loan

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has ruled out sending Danny Welbeck away on-loan.

"It would be crazy to let Danny go out on loan," said Ferguson.

"He is too young. He is still that gangly lad who has not fully matured.

"We can work on his physique knowing we are not playing him all the time.

"He trains with the first-team squad all the time now but he can also go and enjoy himself playing for the youth team or the reserves."

Man City to test Arsenal resolve with Toure bid

Arsenal defender Kolo Toure is a target for Manchester City.

The Guardian says City skipper Richard Dunne has made a series of costly errors this season while Micah Richards has been unable to emulate the level of performance that saw him break into the England team last year.

Mark Hughes has also been alarmed by Tal Ben Haim's form since signing from Chelsea in the summer and the City manager believes Touré can shore up a defence that has conceded two or more goals in seven of the last eight games.

Whether Arsenal would be willing to let him go remains to be seen but it has become apparent that Arsène Wenger has lost confidence in the 27-year-old since the closing stages of last season.

Man Utd's Vidic slams defensive Aston Villa

Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic has rapped the defensive tactics of Aston Villa after last night's 0-0 draw.

"When a team defends with 10 players for the whole game, it’s hard to create chances," Vidic told MUTV. "We had a great strike from Ronaldo, Rooney had an opportunity and a few chances from set-pieces, but we couldn't score.

"We knew we had a good opportunity to get closer to Liverpool and Chelsea but we didn’t take it and now we need to focus on the next game," the Serbian added. "The season is long: Chelsea and Liverpool drawing shows the top teams are going to lose points at home this season."

Man Utd have £9M deal for Partizan Belgrade starlets Tosic, Ljajic

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is signing Serbians Adam Ljajic and Zoran Tosic for £9million.

They will join Manchester United in January if granted work permits, says the Mirror.

A fee has been agreed with Partizan Belgrade and applications for the necessary clearance already submitted.

Ljajic, 17 - dubbed "the new Kaka" - has been to Old Trafford for talks and a trial.

Landing the midfielder despite interest from Real Madrid would be a coup for Ferguson, particularly as the Bernabeu sporting director, Predrag Mijatovic, is a Serbia legend.

Partizan officials have been to Manchester to sign an agreement, with winger Tosic, who has been capped 12 times by his country, coming as part of the package.

Tosic, 21, is nicknamed Bambi and can play on either flank.

Details of the individual cost of each player have not been released, but Ljajic was rated at £7m when first linked with United.