Sir Alex Ferguson has ruled out a deal to bring veteran defender Sol Campbell to Manchester United in January.

Campbell was linked with a shock move to Old Trafford earlier this week to solve United’s current injury problems in defence.

Patrice Evra was the sole fit defender available for United’s UEFA Champions League win at Wolfsburg on Tuesday, and only Nemanja Vidic is expected to be back for Saturday’s game against Aston Villa.

With John O’Shea and Jonny Evans definitely out until the New Year, and no date set for Rio Ferdinand’s return from injury, Campbell was mooted as a stop-gap signing.

However, Red Devils boss Ferguson has been left surprised by the link and says he has no plans to add the 35-year-old, who had expressed an interest in the move, to his squad.

“I don’t know where this came from, but it is all wrong,” said Ferguson.

“Sol Campbell was a great player, but he is not a player we are thinking about getting to come to United.”

Campbell has been training with former club Arsenal of late after leaving Notts County in September just weeks into a five-year contract with the League Two club.

He had made just one appearance for County and has since been linked with a move to Newcastle United as he waits to secure a new club for January.

Money is there

Ferguson also denied reports that he lacks the funds to make major signings, despite bringing in 80million from the summer sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid.

He added: “It has been said I do not have the money. But the money is there if I wanted to use it.

“I didn’t see any value in the summer and I don’t see any value at the moment either.

“I am happy with the players I already have at the club.”

Sol Campbell’s Next Club Win Special: Newcastle 6/1

Real Madrid progressed to the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League as their thrilling 3-1 win over Marseille at the Stade Velodrome condemned their Ligue 1 opponents to a place in the Europa League.

A brace from Cristiano Ronaldo and a strike from Raul Albiol handed the Primera Liga giants a success that sealed them top spot in Group C, while it was heartbreak for brave Marseille, who needed to win to stand any chance of reaching the knockout phase.

Didier Deschamps’ men were at one stage at 1-1 with Real, whilst group rivals AC Milan trailed at FC Zurich, but the Italian club eventually equalised, meaning a missed penalty from Lucho Gonzalez ultimately mattered little as the home side fell to defeat.

After a frenetic beginning to the game, a clumsy challenge by Edouard Cisse on Rafael van der Vaart presented the visitors with an opportunity to test goalkeeper Steve Mandanda from range.

And up trotted Ronaldo in the fifth minute, the Portugal international thumping home a swerving free-kick from distance that left Mandanda scrambling and eventually making inconsequential contact with a rasping strike.

Equaliser

Real threatened once more just minutes later, only for a promising attack to be ended by referee Wolfgang Stark deeming Van der Vaart handled the ball. The German official then booked Brandao for a rash challenge on Albiol.

Albiol was soon back in the thick of the action after he was forced to clear off the line from Brandao’s header after Taye Taiwo had skinned Sergio Ramos. But Albiol’s clearance fell straight to Gonzalez, who smashed home to level the scoreline.

On 16 minutes, after Pepe and Mamadou Niang had both suffered head injuries, the home supporters thought their side had taken the lead when Brandao darted in and slotted past Iker Casillas, yet the linesman’s flag was rightly up for offside.

An incredible goalmouth scramble ensued in the 28th minute as Ronaldo saw a header from a corner rebound off the post, before Gonzalo Higuain’s follow-up was bravely saved by Mandanda and a Sergio Ramos effort was deflected just over.

The first half petered out with Real largely in control, despite news of AC Milan falling behind reaching the stadium. The Spanish side, who had Higuain and Xabi Alonso booked prior to the break, even came close to re-taking the lead when Marcelo slalomed through only to scuff wide under pressure.

Marseille were improved in the early stages of the second period. Niang posed a threat down the left channel, but the danger was nullified by Pepe, before Brandao was out-muscled by the Portuguese stopper when looking to charge in on goal.

Sucker punch

But Real were always a menace on the counter-attack, and after Mandanda blocked a Van der Vaart shot, Marcelo drew another decent save from the France goalkeeper after space opened up down the left wing.

Then, on the hour mark, the Spanish giants restored their advantage when centre-back Albiol arrowed a low, left-footed finish into the corner after Marseille failed to deal with a Van der Vaart corner kick.

The goal proved the first half of a double sucker punch for the Ligue 1 outfit as, at almost the same time in Switzerland, Ronaldinho levelled for AC Milan against FC Zurich.

However, a daft piece of goalkeeping from Casillas awarded Marseille a penalty after the Spaniard rashly felled Niang in the area. Up stepped Lucho, but the Argentina international saw his spot-kick crack back off the crossbar and away from danger.

And the misery of that miss was compounded as Ronaldo made it 3-1, capitalising on Mandanda being in no man’s land, with Real coasting for the remainder of the game, wrapping up their position at the summit while AC Milan sealed the runners-up berth in Group C.

Manchester United progressed to the latter stages of the UEFA Champions League as group winners as Michael Owen scored a brilliant hat-trick in Wolfsburg, while elsewhere Chelsea signed off with a disappointing draw at home to Apoel Nicosia and Bayern Munich battered Juventus 4-1 in Turin.

AC Milan sneaked in the next round despite failing to beat FC Zurich as Real Madrid did them a favour in Marseille, while United’s win in Wolfsburg allowed CSKA Moscow to progress at the Bundesliga club’s expense as they won in Besiktas.

The story of the night was in Turin though as Juve were miserable as they crashed out to Bayern.

Man United started the evening in Wolfsburg with the most unfamiliar of backlines as Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher were paired at centre-half and Park Ji-sung employed at right-back. Sir Alex Ferguson’s side survived a couple of early scares before finding a footing without looking threatening themselves.

With the game heading for a stalemate going into the break Owen reminded Ferguson, and Fabio Capello, what he is capable of as he drifted in between his markers to deftly nod home Nani’s left wing delivery.

Owen was not the only striker showing Ferguson what he was capable of though as Edin Dzeko – a reported United target – restored parity ten minutes after the break as his bullet header from Marcel Schafer’s devilish delivery gave Tomasz Kuszczak not a prayer.

United were on the back foot thereafter but on a rare counter-attack Gabriel Obertan demonstrated brilliant foot work down the left before sliding the ball across goal for Owen to tap in.

Owen capped a memorable individual performance with the best goal of the night courtesy of another Obertan pass, as he raced clear before clipping a brilliant finish beyond Wolfsburg’s crestfallen goalkeeper.

Wolfsburg’s inability to beat United opened the door of opportunity for CSKA Moscow and it was one they stepped through on their travels to Besiktas.

Milos Krasic’s effort four minutes before half-time gave CSKA the lead but Besitkas hit back at the death when Deivson Bobo found a leveller in the 86th minute.

The Russians secured progression in style in the final minute when Yevgeny Aldonin drove home a late, late winner.

Chelsea started the evening safe in the knowledge they had already claimed top spot in Group D and a relaxed atmosphere in the stands seemed to filter down to the pitch as they fell behind to Apoel Nicosia in just the sixth minute.

Constantinos Charalambides caught Chelsea napping down the left and from his delivery Marcin Zewlakov was able to steer a neat finish beyond Ross Turnbull.

It was a lead that was to prove short-lived as Michael Essien’s swerving drive from range deceived Dionissis Chiotis in the Apoel goal, before the influential midfielder had to be replaced after pulling up with a hamstring injury.

Concern over Essien’s injury was softened somewhat before the break as Didier Drogba’s crisp low strike, following a bright interchange between Gael Kakuta and Yuri Zhirkov, gave Chelsea the lead.

John Terry had a goal disallowed late in the second half and his frustration was increased three minutes from time when John Obi Mikel’s sloppy pass presented Nenad Mirosavjevic with the most unlikely of levellers.

Atletico Madrid secured third spot in the group despite slumping to a 3-0 defeat in the Vicente Calderon against Porto. The Portuguese, who started the game guaranteed of second place, were cruising by the quarter-of-an-hour mark.

Bruno Alves’ header set them on their way in just the second minute before Radamel Falcao doubled the gloom in the Spanish capital.

With 15 minutes remaining Hulk etched his name on the scoresheet with a well deserved third for Porto.

Real Madrid progressed as Group C winners as they claimed an impressive 3-1 win on their travels to Marseille.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s fifth goal in four Champions League appearances for Madrid gave the Spanish giants a lead in the crunch clash.

The Portuguese forward opened the scoring in the fifth minute with a trademark free-kick before Marseille’s Argentine schemer Lucho Gonzalez restored parity for the home side.

On the hour mark Raul Albiol’s goal for Madrid all but ended Marseille’s hopes and Real’s superiority was underlined by Ronaldo’s second of the night with ten minutes left.

Marseille’s failure to beat Madrid meant AC Milan could afford to drop points against FC Zurich and they did just that. Milan Gajic’s stunning free-kick gave the home side a first half advantage that they held until the 64th minute when Alain Rochat saw red and conceded a penalty after bundling over Marco Borriello in the box.

Ronaldinho showed customary composure as he slotted home from 12 yards.

Bayern Munich marched into the next round with the most emphatic of 4-1 victories against Juventus.

David Trezeguet calmed nerves in Turin as he gave Juventus a 19th minute lead but it was to prove a false dawn. The Frenchman’s finish was impressive but overshadowed by Bayern’s leveller on the half hour mark.

When Ivica Olic went down in Juventus’ box under challenge from Martin Caceres few expected Hans-Jorg Butt to run the length of the field to take the resulting penalty. Bayern’s goalkeeper was a model of composure amid the nervous tension though, as he feinted before slotting past a bemused Gianluigi Buffon with aplomb.

It got even worse for the Old Lady after the break as Bayern forged ahead through Olic’s tap-in after Buffon had parried Daniel van Buyten’s free header into his path.

With the natives restless Bayern striker Mario Gomez exacerbated their woes in the 83rd minute with a third and decisive goal for Bayern and it got even worse for the home side as Anatoliy Tymoschuk made it four at the death.

French champions Bordeaux were afforded the luxury of travelling to Maccabi Haifa already assured of top spot and their excellent campaign continued with a win.

Abdou Traore was the architect of their winner in Israel as his cross was converted by Bordeaux striker Jussi.

Some of Europe’s heavyweights are facing the prospect of crashing out of the Champions League in the final round of games in Groups A to D.

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The likes of Real Madrid, AC Milan, Juventus and Bayern Munich are all sweating on reaching the last 16 as the group stages draw to a nervy conclusion.

Manchester United are safely through to the knockout stages, but they need a point away to Wolfsburg to ensure they finish as winners of Group B.

If injury-hit United lose to Wolfsburg, and CSKA Moscow fail to win at Besiktas in the other game in the group, last season’s runners-up will finish in second spot.

Chelsea end their Group D campaign safe in the knowledge they have won the group and they will be aiming to get back to winning ways when they welcome Apoel Nicosia to Stamford Bridge.

In the other encounter in the group, Atletico Madrid need a win over already-qualified Porto be sure of a third-place finish and a spot in the Europa League.

Juventus’ home clash with Bayern Munich in Group A is arguably the clash of the night with the Germans needing to win in Turin to secure their passage into the next round.

If Juventus draw it means Bayern will join Liverpool as early casualties from the Champions League dropping into the Europa League.

In the other game in the group already-qualified Bordeaux travel to basement boys Maccabi Haifa, who are still looking for their first point in the group.

Group C is still be decided with three teams still in with a chance of reaching the next round.

Real Madrid, who are two points clear at the summit of the group, need only a point from their trip to Marseille to send them through.

Marseille are currently third in Group C and they need a win to have any chance of reaching the last 16.

The French side would need to win by a larger margin than 3-0 to be sure of a place in the next phase, but could still qualify with any type of win if Milan fail to beat FC Zurich.

In-form Milan will progress with a victory, but matching Marseille’s result against Real will also see them through to the lucrative knockout stages.

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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has laughed off talk linking him with a shock move for former Manchester United star Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Van Nistelrooy has been mentioned as a possible January transfer target for Wenger as he looks to bring in a new striker to compensate for the loss of Robin van Persie to long-term injury.

Real Madrid are believed to be willing to let van Nistelrooy leave the Bernabeu in January as he is well down the pecking order in the Spanish capital and the player could be interested in a move away as he looks to secure his place in the Holland squad for next summer’s World Cup finals.

Wenger admits any move is highly unlikely considering van Nistelrooy’s popularity among Arsenal fans following a number of high-profile incidents during games between Arsenal and Manchester United.

Relationship

Asked about his pursuit of a striker and the chances of signing van Nistelrooy, Wenger said: “It would not be the best of starts, bearing in mind our past relationship! You have my number – you can text me all the names you find!”

Wenger also played down Arsenal chances of brining in a new forward during the January transfer window as he accepts his options are limited.

“We’re at the beginning of December, if we are in the same situation with injuries in January then I will see,” added Wenger.

“But we can’t dream too much of finding a world class player because that’s what is needed to strengthen our team.

“But they also need not to be European cup-tied and who is also free so we must hope Father Christmas is good to us!”

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