Ferguson believes that the transfer market has 'caught fire' this summer with players' valuations going through the roof.

The Scot highlighted that he is used to paying over the odds for players but he would not be held to ransom over certain prospective targets.

It means that United fans will have to make do with the arrivals of Antonio Valencia, Michael Owen, who has been handed the number seven shirt, and Gabriel Obertan as the Premier League champions get accustomed to life without Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez.

"It is the end of our business, so all these stories about who we are supposed to be getting - forget it," he said.

"Everywhere in England and in Europe the players' values have shot sky high. I don't think any of the transfers that you see happening are realistic but for some reason it seems to have caught fire this summer.

"It is a very unusual summer and difficult to get value because of that."