Sir Alex Ferguson Given Green Light To Buy Real Madrid's Karim Benzema And Aston Villa's James Milner

Manchester United's owners have given manager Sir Alex Ferguson permission to chase star duo Karim Benzema and James Milner, according to The Mirror.

The Glazer family are reported to have loosened the purse strings at the club and have handed the Scot the money to bid for the pair despite being £734 million in debt.

United are understood to have readied a £20 million bid for Benzema, just one year after they were rebuffed by the player as he moved to Real Madrid. A miserable season in the Spanish capital and subsequent drop from the French World Cup squad are understood to have changed his mind about a switch to Old Trafford.

Ferguson is also ready to go head-to-head with rivals Manchester City to seal Milner's signature. The Blues have already had a £20 million offer rejected for the England international and United are ready to swoop in and buy him.