Manchester Evening News reporter Stuart Mathieson has revealed how Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson made him aware of an offer from Chelsea.Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich wanted to replace Claudio Ranieri with Ferguson soon after buying the club.

Mathieson wrote in his column: "On one occasion, Ferguson revealed to me Chelsea had wanted him as their manager, soon after Roman Abramovich's takeover. I thought it was one of those off-the-record nuggets I would not be able to use. So I asked did he want that going public.

"He clearly wanted it out there, because he said I could use it, no problem. But it was on the understanding I did not reveal where it came from. I did have to use some quotes in the piece from him on his desire to stay at Old Trafford.

"The M.E.N splashed the story on the front page and I was pleased with my exclusive, and I assumed, as Fergie was happy for me to run it, so would he. When I rang next day, I asked in all innocence: 'Did you see the Chelsea piece?' 'Yes,' he barked back. 'And you made it pretty obvious where it came from too!' Bang, the phone went down."