United deny Sochaux claim

Man Utd have refuted claims they have tapped up Sochaux starlet Jeremy Menez.

The French outfit have complained that the Premiership giants have been offering Menez's parents financial incentives in the hope of luring the teenage attacker to Old Trafford.

Menez revealed at the start of the week that he was invited to Old Trafford by Red Devils boss Sir Alex Ferguson at the start of the season to watch the game against Everton.

He later opted to reject the club's overtures to stay loyal to Sochaux but remains coveted by United, and their fierce rivals Arsenal.

Sochaux, though, have accused United of tapping up the 17-year-old, who scored the first senior hat-trick of his career at the weekend against Bordeaux.

"Ferguson even went to Jeremy's parents' home in the Paris suburbs and made them financial offers," fumed Sochaux president Jean-Claude Plessis.

"Arsenal and Manchester United both wanted to take him away.

"But his parents are sensible people and they put their son's career first."

United have rejected Sochaux's accusation, insisting they have not acted outside the game's boundaries in their interest in Menez.

The club's communications director Phil Townsend said: "There is absolutely no question of us having tapped him up."