Ferguson said: “Southampton said no to us because they are looking for more money, which they have every right to do.
“I am not exactly sure what Tottenham have offered but they have offered more and that puts them in pole position.”
He added: “The bid we made for Gareth reflected his potential. There were a series of build-ups in it because we have to protect our own club’s assets too.
“We offered an initial fee with add-ons depending on how many games he plays, international caps and so on.”
