Chelsea millions could buy them title: Fergie

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted for the first time that Roman Abramovich's millions could buy Chelsea the Premiership title.

Ferguson was initially sceptical about whether his Chelsea counterpart Claudio Ranieri would be able to integrate the 111 million pounds worth of new players he acquired in the summer quickly enough to mount a serious challenge for silverware in this campaign.

But with a third of the season gone, Ferguson admits he has reassessed his view that Arsenal would provide the main threat to United's bid to retain their title.

The Scot paid tribute to the progress Ranieri had made in grafting costly new additions such as Damien Duff, Hernan Crespo and Juan Veron on to an already large squad packed with internationals.

Asked if Chelsea's form was proof the title could be bought, Ferguson replied: "I wouldn't have said so under normal circumstances. But Chelsea are certainly defying that by their own results."

Regardless of the outcome of Sunday's meeting between his side and Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, Ferguson expects the title race between them, United and Arsenal to go right to the wire.

"They'll be up there at the top of the table come the end of the season. The three of us are looking very strong. Neither of us are making any huge mistakes, which means that, when we come to play each other, the games are vital. That may decide the league this year."

United will be bolstered on Sunday by the return of skipper Roy Keane after he was left out of the midweek Champions League trip to Panathanaikos because of a minor hamstring strain.

"I wasn't going to take any risks by not taking him to Greece," Ferguson said.

"It wasn't a serious hamstring injury, it was a slight strain that he got in last Saturdays match. For a start, the travelling is never an easy thing when you've got any strains. But I expect him to be fit for Sunday."