Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has refused to be drawn into media reports linking the club with a summer swoop for Valencia hit-man David Villa.

With United out of the Champions League, trailing Chelsea at the top of the Premier League by two points and minus the services of star striker Wayne Rooney, the Red Devils' faithful want to see a big money signing that would improve their attacking line-up next season.

Fulham defender Chris Smalling and Mexico striker Javier Hernandez have already been added to bolster the ranks ahead of the 2010/11 campaign, but Ferguson has dismissed the Villa rumours as pure speculation.

"It is about getting the player we need who are going to improve us or maintain the level we are at," Ferguson told reporters.

"That is the way we have operated in the past and there is not a lot wrong with that policy.

"There is conjecture about every player. Last summer it was Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema, although he was a young player and one of the targets we set out to get.

"Now it is David Villa."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email