In the year he turns 70, Sir Alex Ferguson’s commitment to the future remains as strong as ever. Even with his powers of endurance, the United manager cannot hope to see Phil Jones and David de Gea reach their peak at Old Trafford.
And in a summer that he hopes to sign the players who will win him at least one more Champions League before he retires, the fact Ferguson is willing to commit around £35m of his budget on youth speaks volumes for his determination to keep United at the top long after his reign comes to an end.
Jones is set to complete his £16.5m move from Blackburn and Atletico Madrid goalkeeper De Gea is all set to join the Reds for £18.3m after the Under-21 European Championships.
While the 20-year-old Spaniard is expected to be installed as United’s No1 next season, 19-year-old central defender Jones is very much one for the future. His best hopes next season could come playing as a defensive midfielder or as cover for Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Chris Smalling at the back. But he is certainly not the player Ferguson had in mind when he spoke of rising to the challenge of breaking Barcelona’s dominance next year.
In the long-term, yes. And so exceptional is Jones’ potential that United were prepared to move for him 12 months earlier than expected to avoid losing him to rivals Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea or Tottenham.
By next summer City, too, may have stepped up the tentative interest they have shown in the England Under-21 international in the past.
Ferguson has never been afraid to alter his plans in extreme circumstances – and the prospect of losing a player considered the new John Terry was enough to temporarily avert his focus from his immediate targets in a summer of rebuilding at the Premier League champions.
He wants the players who can challenge Barcelona right away in the Champions League and hold off the threat of City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool domestically.
England international Ashley Young, Inter Milan’s Dutch playmaker Wesley Sneijder and Tottenham’s Luka Modric are seen as pivotal to creating a team that can win a 20th league title and reach a fourth Champions League final in five years.
Jack Rodwell is another player Ferguson has monitored for some time, but the signing of Jones may force him into a rethink over another young Englishman who can play in central midfield and defence.
Not even Liverpool’s interest in Sunderland and England midfielder Jordan Henderson could tempt Ferguson to step in with a firm bid for a player he had asked to be kept informed about, because of other priorities.
He is conscious he’s lost a wealth of experience from his squad already this summer.
The retirements of Paul Scholes, Edwin van der Sar and Gary Neville, release of Owen Hargreaves and the expected exits of Wes Brown and possibly John O’Shea has robbed him of title-winning knowhow aplenty.
But even after winning a record 19th title and reaching the final of the Champions League, there has been a growing feeling at United that last season was the final hurrah for much of the squad.
Ferguson has known for some time he would be given the biggest transfer budget in his 25 years at Old Trafford and spent the last 12 months identifying the players who could keep the trophies rolling in the immediate and long-term.
He has more than £100m to spend and is set to recoup a sizeable chunk from the sales of a host of fringe players, including Brown, Tomasz Kuszczak, Darron Gibson, Mame Biram Diouf and possibly Gabriel Obertan. The Under-21 Championships in Denmark will give a tantalising glimpse into United’s future even beyond Ferguson.
As well as new recruit Jones, Stuart Pearce’s England squad includes Smalling, Tom Cleverley and Danny Welbeck. De Gea will keep goal for Spain.
United also have Brazilians Fabio and Rafael Da Silva, who have already made an impact in the first team, as well as Italian Federico Macheda.
Should all continue their rate of improvement then United have more than the nucleus of team for a decade.
Add to them the clutch of exciting talent from the FA Youth Cup success last season in Paul Pogba, Ravel Morrison, John Coffie and Will Keane, and Ferguson will know the club is in safe hands even after he retires.
He also retains an interest in Southampton’s outstanding teenage winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and 18-year-old Lens defender Raphael Varane.
And in a summer that he hopes to sign the players who will win him at least one more Champions League before he retires, the fact Ferguson is willing to commit around £35m of his budget on youth speaks volumes for his determination to keep United at the top long after his reign comes to an end.
Jones is set to complete his £16.5m move from Blackburn and Atletico Madrid goalkeeper De Gea is all set to join the Reds for £18.3m after the Under-21 European Championships.
While the 20-year-old Spaniard is expected to be installed as United’s No1 next season, 19-year-old central defender Jones is very much one for the future. His best hopes next season could come playing as a defensive midfielder or as cover for Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Chris Smalling at the back. But he is certainly not the player Ferguson had in mind when he spoke of rising to the challenge of breaking Barcelona’s dominance next year.
In the long-term, yes. And so exceptional is Jones’ potential that United were prepared to move for him 12 months earlier than expected to avoid losing him to rivals Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea or Tottenham.
By next summer City, too, may have stepped up the tentative interest they have shown in the England Under-21 international in the past.
Ferguson has never been afraid to alter his plans in extreme circumstances – and the prospect of losing a player considered the new John Terry was enough to temporarily avert his focus from his immediate targets in a summer of rebuilding at the Premier League champions.
He wants the players who can challenge Barcelona right away in the Champions League and hold off the threat of City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool domestically.
England international Ashley Young, Inter Milan’s Dutch playmaker Wesley Sneijder and Tottenham’s Luka Modric are seen as pivotal to creating a team that can win a 20th league title and reach a fourth Champions League final in five years.
Jack Rodwell is another player Ferguson has monitored for some time, but the signing of Jones may force him into a rethink over another young Englishman who can play in central midfield and defence.
Not even Liverpool’s interest in Sunderland and England midfielder Jordan Henderson could tempt Ferguson to step in with a firm bid for a player he had asked to be kept informed about, because of other priorities.
He is conscious he’s lost a wealth of experience from his squad already this summer.
The retirements of Paul Scholes, Edwin van der Sar and Gary Neville, release of Owen Hargreaves and the expected exits of Wes Brown and possibly John O’Shea has robbed him of title-winning knowhow aplenty.
But even after winning a record 19th title and reaching the final of the Champions League, there has been a growing feeling at United that last season was the final hurrah for much of the squad.
Ferguson has known for some time he would be given the biggest transfer budget in his 25 years at Old Trafford and spent the last 12 months identifying the players who could keep the trophies rolling in the immediate and long-term.
He has more than £100m to spend and is set to recoup a sizeable chunk from the sales of a host of fringe players, including Brown, Tomasz Kuszczak, Darron Gibson, Mame Biram Diouf and possibly Gabriel Obertan. The Under-21 Championships in Denmark will give a tantalising glimpse into United’s future even beyond Ferguson.
As well as new recruit Jones, Stuart Pearce’s England squad includes Smalling, Tom Cleverley and Danny Welbeck. De Gea will keep goal for Spain.
United also have Brazilians Fabio and Rafael Da Silva, who have already made an impact in the first team, as well as Italian Federico Macheda.
Should all continue their rate of improvement then United have more than the nucleus of team for a decade.
Add to them the clutch of exciting talent from the FA Youth Cup success last season in Paul Pogba, Ravel Morrison, John Coffie and Will Keane, and Ferguson will know the club is in safe hands even after he retires.
He also retains an interest in Southampton’s outstanding teenage winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and 18-year-old Lens defender Raphael Varane.
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