Manchester United 'tried to sign Vincent Kompany'

Former Manchester United assistant manager Mike Phelan has revealed that the Red Devils tried to snatch Vincent Kompany from under the noses of their rivals Manchester City.

The 27-year-old returned from a groin injury to captain the Citizens in their Champions League victory on Tuesday, and should continue in the centre of Manuel Pellegrini's defence in the Manchester derby this weekend.

Phelan was appointed Sir Alex Ferguson's number two at Old Trafford in the same season that Kompany joined City from Hamburger SV, five years ago, and he has claimed that United were also in the running to sign the Belgian international.

"Vincent Kompany has been a mainstay of this new Man City, and United looked at him at one point," Phelan told BBC Sport. "We tried to impose ourselves in those negotiations, but he went across the road."

Phelan was assistant manager to Ferguson during three Premier League title wins, and two League Cup victories, but left the club shortly after the Scot's retirement from management this summer.