Patrick Vieira: Wanted United move, said Fergie. (AlexLivesey/Allsport)

The Old Trafford manager further stoked the antagonism between the clubs yesterday when he claimed that every Arsenal player would want to sign for United, and the only reason Patrick Vieira did not last summer was because he was not allowed to.

'They would all like to come here,' said Ferguson. 'Vieira would have loved to have come here last year but they wouldn't let him. Players will always want to go to a better club. That's life.

'I am lucky. I am working for the best club in the world. I don't have problem players. There is no player in this country who wouldn't want to play for Manchester United.'

However, claiming that the France international - who has two years of his Highbury contract to run - wished to play for United risks allegations of an illegal approach by United at the end of last season.

Indeed, Arsenal confirmed they received an enquiry about the player from United chief executive Peter Kenyon but he was told that Vieira was not for sale. Arsenal vice-chairman David

Dein has been a fierce opponent of illegal approaches and has threatened to report United to the Football Association in the past. But last night he said that Arsenal did not intend to take any action after this latest outburst.

It seems that the current Premiership champions and FA Cup winners feel secure enough about their own status as England's best team to maintain a dignified silence while Ferguson attempts to goad a response.

This latest spat is one of a number between Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and his United counterpart and appears to have been provoked by comments the Frenchman made three weeks ago.

Wenger, who would have liked to have bought Rio Ferdinand, claimed that United had paid Leeds £10million too much for the £30m England defender, insinuating that the former champions were unwise to invest as much as they did.

Ferguson has waited to respond and chose an opportunity closer to the beginning of the season to do so. The fact that the interview in which he made his comments was given to publicise the charity UNICEF did not appear to have a bearing on the content.

Meanwhile, Ruud van Nistelrooy has been shortlisted for one of the most prestigious awards in football after his remarkable efforts for Manchester United in last season's Champions League.

The Holland striker scored 10 goals in 13 matches and for that he has been named alongside Zinedine Zidane and Raul in the running for the tournament's Most Valuable Player award.

UEFA officials will make the presentation in Monaco on the eve of the European Super Cup later this month when they will hand out a number of other awards that could also go to leading Premiership figures.

Ferguson has been shortlisted for best coach, while Liverpool's Jerzy Dudek (best goalkeeper) and Sami Hyypia (best defender) join United's Roy Keane and Arsenal's Vieira (both best midfielder) in the quest for player prizes.

Vieira's team-mate Edu has set his sights on a different prize - breaking into the Brazil side. The 24-year-old midfielder struggled to make an impact in his first year at Highbury following passport problems plus hamstring and ankle injuries.

But the former Corinthians star is hoping that Brazilian compatriot Gilberto Silva's recent arrival at Highbury will help him to impress national team coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.