BBC SPORT | Football | Teams | Man Utd | Man Utd plan striker swoop

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will try to sign another striker by the end of the month.

The Old Trafford boss has to bring in any new players by 31 August in order to register them for the Champions League.

Having sold Dwight Yorke to Blackburn, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Diego Forlan are the only recognised strikers on the books at Old Trafford.

We would like to have four strikers

Sir Alex Ferguson

And having ruled out a bid for West Ham's maverick Italian Paolo di Canio, United seem set to move for either Lazio's Hernan Crespo or - more probably - Chelsea's Eidur Gudjohnsen.

Gudjohnsen was in superb form for Chelsea last season and the cash-strapped London club could be tempted to sell if an appropriate offer is tabled.

"We would like to have four strikers," said Ferguson, who will not have to sell any more players to fund another move.

"We have always worked on that basis so it's possible we could bring someone in.

"We have a deadline of 8 August for the qualifying stage of the Champions League and 31 August for the main competition.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer celebrates after scoring
Solskjaer is the longest serving striker at Old Trafford
"We do not have a lot of time until next Wednesday but hopefully, if we get through the first stage, we will use 31 August."

But Gudjohnsen's agent, Peter Harrison, insisted the Icelandic striker was happy to stay at Chelsea.

"Eidur has always been committed to Chelsea," Harrison said.

"He is very happy there and likes living in London."

The Blues are currently involved in contract negotiations with Gudjohnsen and Harrison added: "No deadline has been set and no one is saying 'pay me more or I'm off'."

United had a scout at Anfield on Tuesday, watching Lazio in a pre-season friendly against Liverpool, while the Serie A club still owe the Old Trafford club �10m following the transfer of Jaap Stam last season.

But Argentine Crespo is understood to earn �70,000 - a figure that is likely to prevent him joining United.

Ferguson made it clear that one man who will not be coming to Old Trafford is West Ham favourite Paolo di Canio.

Di Canio waiting for Man Utd

The Italian was close to making the move midway through last season, but the transfer never happened.

And Ferguson is not ready to renew his interest.

"He will not be the next one," said Ferguson.

Ferguson was speaking ahead of the prestigious Amsterdam tournament, which will see his side pitted against hosts Ajax on Friday and Italian outfit Parma on Sunday.