Manchester United have given up hope of signing Julien Escude and Nicolas Burdisso before the transfer deadline on Saturday.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was keen to sign at least one new defender to bolster his squad.

But United managing director Peter Kenyon said he would not be able to conclude a deal for either Escude or Burdisso this season.

Yet Kenyon was hopeful he could land a new keeper before Saturday.

First-choice Fabien Barthez is out with a hip injury and could be out for several weeks.

Kenyon said: "We are still looking at that and could possibly do that before Friday.

"We are a bit light in that department, although Roy Carroll has done well.

"If we could identify a keeper that would be something we'd look at.

"The goalkeeping situation is probably the biggest surprise for us and that is down to injuries."

Kenyon said the club had not been unduly affected by the new 31 August transfer deadline.

"We have been working to that deadline for years because that is the Champions League deadline," he explained.