Manchester United chief executive Peter Kenyon yesterday ruled out a move for Barcelona striker Rivaldo, insisting the club were not interested in "one-year wonders".
The Newcastle United target, who has fired five goals for Brazil at the World Cup, has been linked with the Old Trafford giants.
But the United chief claims that the 28-year-old is reaching the end of his career and that they would continue to look at other younger alternatives.
"The clock is ticking on Rivaldo," said Kenyon. "He would cost a fortune. You don't look at players over the age of 28 who are going to cost that sort of money. We want players who will perform over a long period. We will not invest in one-year wonders."
But the Old Trafford chief has admitted that the club have been in contact with Leeds United in the past over the availability of defender Rio Ferdinand.
Newcastle United have had a £4.2 million bid for Ipswich Town defender Titus Bramble turned down.
United boss Bobby Robson has been keeping a close eye on the 20-year-old England Under-21 international, but has not shown his hand until now because of Bramble's Achilles problem which required surgery.
Sky Sports yesterday started the countdown to the new FA Premiership season and they are confident they have struck the right balance with every Premiership club being shown live by the end of October and twice by mid-December.
ENGLISH FA PREMIERSHIP GAMES LIVE ON SKY SPORTS
(Provisional list up to January 2003)
August - Sun 18th: Arsenal v Birmingham City. Fri 23rd: Chelsea v Manchester Utd. Sat 24th: Manchester City v Newcastle. Wed 28th: Fulham v West Ham. September - Sun 1st: Chelsea v Arsenal. Mon 2nd: Liverpool v Newcastle. Tue 10th: Arsenal v Manchester City. Sat 14th: Leeds v Manchester Utd. Sun 15th: Birmingham v Aston Villa. Mon 16th: Tottenham v West Ham. Sun 22nd: Newcastle v Sunderland. Mon 23rd: Fulham v Chelsea. Sat 28th: Leeds v Arsenal. Mon 30th: West Brom v Blackburn. October - Sun 6th: Liverpool v Chelsea. Mon 7th: Manchester Utd v Everton. Sun 20th: Charlton v Middlesbrough. Mon 21st: Aston Villa v Southampton. Sun 27th: West Ham v Everton. Mon 28th: Bolton Wanderers v Sunderland. November - Sun 3rd: Charlton v Sunderland. Mon 4th: Newcastle v Middlesbrough. Sat 9th: Manchester City v Manchester Utd. Sun 10th: Sunderland v Tottenham. Sun 17th: West Ham v Manchester Utd. Sat 23th: Manchester Utd v Newcastle. Sun 24th: Charlton v Blackburn. December - Sun 1st: Liverpool v Manchester Utd. Mon 2nd: West Ham v Southampton. Sat 7th: Manchester Utd v Arsenal. Sun 8th: Tottenham v West Brom. Sun 15th: Sunderland v Liverpool. Mon 16th: Bolton v Leeds. Sun 22nd: Liverpool v Everton. Mon 23rd: Manchester City v Tottenham. Thur 26th: Middlesbrough v Manchester Utd. Sun 29th: Arsenal v Liverpool. January - Wed 1st: Newcastle v Liverpool.
