Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is taking his chase for Southampton whiz Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as personal.

The Manchester Evening News says Ferguson wants to get one over Arsenal rival Arsene Wenger by landing the 17 year-old.

Wenger beat Ferguson to the punch when landing Theo Walcott from Southampton in 2006 and Aaron Ramsey from Cardiff two years later.

Ferguson exacted some revenge on Arsenal last January when convincing Chris Smalling to choose Old Trafford over the Emirates in a £10m deal from Fulham.

On that occasion Smalling was loaned back to Craven Cottage for the remainder of the season.

United will look to do something similar with Oxlade-Chamberlain - perhaps even allowing him to stay at Southampton beyond the summer.