Bayern resolve to resist Ferguson's Hargreaves bid

Sir Alex Ferguson is set to be thwarted in his attempts to sign Owen Hargreaves in the January transfer window, but the Manchester United manager may be planning to move for another Bundesliga player in addition to the England midfielder.

Bayern Munich have insisted that Hargreaves will not be sold next month, while hinting that things could change in the summer, but Sir Alex has also been linked with the Germany striker Miroslav Klose. Leading scorer in the World Cup during the summer with five goals, Klose - who was born in Poland - is expected to leave Werder Bremen at the end of the season, and Juventus are also taking an interest in his plans for the future.

Although the 28-year-old's contract runs until 2008, he has expressed a desire to play in the Premiership. He was bought by Bremen from Kaiserslautern two years ago for a fee of around £3.5m - but would cost around double that amount should he leave. He is the joint top scorer in the Bundesliga this season, with 10 goals.

On the issue of Hargreaves, Bayern are determined to keep him until the end of the season. "Nothing is going to happen during the winter transfer window," their director of football, Uli Hoeness, said.

"We have to play Real Madrid in the Champions' League and we are not going to weaken the team. We want to go far in the Champions League, we want to catch Werder Bremen and Schalke in the Bundesliga and we need Owen Hargreaves for that."

He added, however: "If at some point we find someone who can replace Owen who perhaps costs less than we would get for him, then we would maybe think about it."

Hargreaves, who has not played since breaking his left leg playing for Bayern on 17 September, is under contract in Munich until 2010, but has expressed an interest in moving to Old Trafford.

"My dad's from Bolton and all his family are there so, for me, it's not like Man United showing interest in a German player, there are very specific ties. My family is there," the Canada-born midfielder said last week.