Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has played down suggestions that he is prepared to drop goalkeeper David de Gea for his blunder against Tottenham Hotspur.

The Spaniard, whose failure to punch the ball clear led to an equaliser against Spurs last weekend, received strong criticism from ex-United defender and Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville.

"I am not getting into that at all," BBC Sport quotes Ferguson as saying. "You have to listen to some idiots in the game."

Meanwhile, the Red Devils have made their first signing in the January transfer window by agreeing a fee with Crystal Palace for winger Wilfried Zaha.