The Royals are one of the lowest-scoring side in the Premier League this season, having only scored only 23 goals in their 21 games back in the top flight so far. Top scorer Adam Le Fondre has only five goals to his name in the competition this season.
Therefore, McDermott hopes to bring in a striker this month joined with fellow newcomer Daniel Carrico and Hope Akpan, but they denied that Welbeck is one of his targets.
"I can not see Sir Alex Ferguson sends Danny out to any club," said McDermott. "I do not know where it came from, it has nothing to do with me.
"Danny Welbeck is a great player and I'm sure Sir Alex Ferguson thinks he's a great player too All the people in this country think that .."
Welbeck started 23 league games for the States last season, scoring nine goals, but the arrival of summer Robin van Persie and a rejuvenated form of Javier Hernandez has been greatly reduced playing time next term.
The only league goal came in a 4-2 victory campaigns over Stoke City back in October.
However, McDermott revealed in a press conference ahead of Saturday's visit of West Bromwich Albion that he had talked to Ferguson recently about the striker - Baggies and former Reading forward Shane Long.
"I talked to Shane regularly, he's a friend," he said. "The impact he's had since the age of 18 years has been phenomenal.
"Sir Alex Ferguson called it the other day and talked about what a top player he is and he knows what he is around he might end up in a top-four club, which would not be beyond the realms of possibility .."
