Ferguson reveals failed Senna bid

Villareal rejected Man Utd's late bid for Senna

Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed he failed in an 11th-hour bid to resurrect a move for Villareal midfielder Marcos Senna on transfer deadline day.

Ferguson put interest in the 30-year-old on hold while he chased England midfielder Owen Hargreaves.

That decision backfired as Bayern Munich refused to sell and Villarreal rejected an improved offer for Senna.

Ferguson told United Review: "We made another late bid for Marcos Senna, but you cannot force clubs to sell."

Despite his failure to land either midfielder, and with £18.5m Michael Carrick the only summer addition, Ferguson insists his squad is in healthy shape for an assault on domestic and European honours.

Ferguson added: "We did work very hard on trying to bring Owen Hargreaves to Old Trafford, right up to the day the transfer window closed.

"Similarly, we made another late bid for Marcos Senna," said Ferguson who has seen his side open their Premiership campaign with four straight wins and his upbeat about his side's prospects despite failing to land either player.

"Some of you may not share my confidence, especially if you were expecting more from the transfer market this summer. But I am not dissatisfied with my squad.

"You always seek to add to your options but we have a good squad well equipped to make a serious challenge on all fronts.

"You can see that from our recent league performances and I believe it will take something strange to stop us qualifying from our Champions League group this time."