Leeds insist Ferdinand is not for sale after rejecting the England defender’s written transfer request.

However chairman Peter Ridsdale would appear to have left the door open for a fresh United offer when he said as a plc, the board would be duty-bound to consider any big bid for Ferdinand.

Ferguson feels United’s money men should now move quickly because he feels time is running out.

Ferguson is mindful that the new season is just four weeks away and he has still not captured the defensive linchpin, which is top of his summer shopping list.

If Ferguson cannot get Ferdinand he will switch his attentions to his other targets - Alessandro Nesta, Roberto Ayala and Lilian Thuram.

The United manager said on MUTV: ‘‘It’s ongoing. Nothing seems to be happening.

‘‘Leeds are saying a lot of things which we have to take on board.

‘‘We’re running out of time so we have to do something quickly. Maybe we will have to move on somewhere.’’

United have not been in contact with Leeds since Ridsdale rejected Reds chief executive Peter Kenyon’s offer some weeks ago.

United are continuing to monitor the situation and they are watching for any lessening of Leeds’ resolve to keep Ferdinand.

If they do make a second bid it will need to be near the £30m (€46.7m) mark to interest Leeds and it is being reported that a compromise figure of £27m (€42m) could be enough to clinch a deal.