Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will act if given encouragement by Inter Milan over Wesley Sneijder. The Manchester Evening News says although Ferguson is adamant his squad is strong enough to fend off Manchester City in the race for the title, he has revealed he has the money to spend if a world-class player becomes available.

Sneijder has been on United's radar for more than a year and was their top target last summer following the retirement of Paul Scholes.

Ajax's Christian Eriksen has also been monitored, but Sneijder is the world-class playmaker Ferguson has been desperate to sign. Inter are understood to be keen to off-load the Holland star's estimated £200,000-a-week salary from their wage list to help bring in new recruits in January.

His personal demands were a stumbling block when Ferguson tried to bring him to Old Trafford in the summer.

But after seeing his side crash out of the Champions League at the group stage and the challenge laid down by rivals City in the first half of the season, Sneijder would provide the Reds a major title boost in the New Year. United can start 2012 at the top of the Premier League if they avoid defeat to Blackburn on New Year's eve.