Sir Alex Ferguson has denied suggestions that Mikael Silvestre is to be sold by Manchester United to make way for new £5m arrival Patrice Evra. The United boss skirted around the subject of any further new arrivals - Thomas Gravesen has been mentioned - but denied flatly the reinforcement of his defence, with Nemanja Vidic also having signed, would signal the end of Silvestre's seven-year Old Trafford career. "It doesn't mean that at all," said Ferguson when asked if Silvestre would now be on his way. "We are trying to bring players in because we didn't have the squad to cover all eventualities." While some may argue this week's double move signals some defensive disaffection on Ferguson's part, it was not a subject the United boss was prepared to discuss, instead preferring to see the signings as merely giving him more choice. "We have just lacked options," said Ferguson. "These two lads are a good age, they have the right credentials and it is good to bring players in who are still developing. "We will have a better idea about when Nemanja will play once he starts football training, which will be some time next week. "It is difficult to be precise about it, we will just have to see how he comes through."