Valencia, Palacios, Moutinho, Veloso

Jobs a good 'un. I like how they made all the sentences very short too. Easier to read that way.

MANCHESTER UNITED boss Alex Ferguson has already identified £40million of new talent to help sustain his stranglehold on the Premier League.

The Reds are on the verge of retaining their title and hold a five-point lead over Chelsea with just four League games to go this term.

And SunSport can reveal the names of the four young stars that Fergie has his eyes on ahead of next season.

Portugal and Sporting Lisbon stars Miguel Veloso and Joao Moutinho are top of the shopping list.

And Ferguson is also targeting Wigan aces Wilson Palacios and Luis Antonio Valencia.

Old Trafford No 2 Carlos Queiroz has been on scouting missions over the last few weeks to run the rule over all four players.

Last summer Ferguson had finished his transfer business almost as soon as the team secured the title — and this year looks to be no different.

SunSport exclusively revealed in October that Fergie was interested in midfielders Veloso and Moutinho. Both players will be part of Portugal’s Euro 2008 squad.

Moutinho, 21, has 11 caps for Portugal and his quick-footed, artistic style is perfectly suited to United.

Veloso, also 21, is a more defensive midfielder who can also play as a centre-half or as a full-back. He has five Portugal caps to his name.

United have a terrific relationship with Sporting Lisbon and bought current stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani from the Portuguese side.

Queiroz watched the Sporting players in their Uefa Cup defeat to Rangers last week.

And it is believed that United have first refusal on the young stars but the champions-elect know they will need to shell out around £30m for the pair.

Before his trip to Lisbon Queiroz watched Wigan’s game with Birmingham where £6m-rated midfielder Palacios, 23, and £4m winger Valencia, 22, starred in a 2-0 win.

Palacios has been a key figure in Wigan’s relegation battle since his January switch from Honduran side Olimpia.

Wigan boss Steve Bruce also signed Palacios on loan when he was the manager of Birmingham earlier this season.

Valencia moved to Wigan after impressing for Ecuador in the 2006 World Cup.

Last season United forked out £80m for Anderson, Nani, Owen Hargreaves and Carlos Tevez.

But this year Ferguson wants to improve the depth of his squad and will give the new youngsters time to make their mark at Old Trafford.

While midfielder Anderson has made a big impact in the Premier League and in Europe this season, winger Nani has been used more sparingly.

Ferguson knows his starting team is as strong as he could hope for and it would be difficult to improve.

So now he is eyeing long-term replacements for veterans Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville.

Nani is seen by many as the long-term successor to Giggs and Moutinho is considered a perfect replacement for Scholes.

is there an echo in here

Wenger discovered Palacios, infact he discovered every half decen player.

So Anderson is not the long term replacement for scholes???

Originally Posted by Rossobianchi

So Anderson is not the long term replacement for scholes???

No. That's Moutinho. Can't you read?

Palacios?

You can laugh all you want.

While we're shopping at one of Europe's elite, maybe we should make it a triple swoop and get Scharner too.

the 2 lads at Wigan are quality players , don't think they are united standard though tbh .

Originally Posted by S/Side.Red

While we're shopping at one of Europe's elite, maybe we should make it a triple swoop and get Scharner too.

Jason Koumas

Originally Posted by Stubbsy

the 2 lads at Wigan are quality players , don't think they are united standard though tbh .

Yep. What are the chances of two players who have the ability to play for United plying their trade at Wigan?

Originally Posted by magic_cantona

Jason Koumas

Pipe dream, mate.

Scharner is a good player. Would provide a bit of physical presence when Vidic is unavailable. Can also play as a defensive midfielder if a bit of bite is required in the middle of the park. Chips in with his fair share of goals too.

Only thing really going against him is his age, although I reckon we could probably use a bit more top level experience in the squad.

Originally Posted by Serenity Now

Scharner is a good player. Would provide a bit of physical presence when Vidic is unavailable. Can also play as a defensive midfielder if a bit of bite is required in the middle of the park. Chips in with his fair share of goals too.

Only thing really going against him is his age, although I reckon we could probably use a bit more top level experience in the squad.

Don't worry about his age.With talent like his, we could accomodate him as a sweeper.

The floors in the South Stand are always chocca with papers and that.

I like the way they avoid long words in their articles.


It means that the people stupid enough to believe the shite written in the Sun are able to understand the articles.

they had a very interesting feature in the m.e.n today about fergies striking options, couple of argentinians mentioned as well as wellbeck, manucho etc. the only other striker linked was the hunter.

Ryan Taylor

I can't believe they didn't mention Heskey??

Originally Posted by magic_cantona

Don't worry about his age.With talent like his, we could accomodate him as a sweeper.

The floors in the South Stand are always chocca with papers and that.

I'm not saying he's good enough to be a starter. But as a squad player, he's got to be a better option than O'Shea, no?

Has made more tackles than anyone else in the league this season. Fact.

I remember when there was a serious "Reo Coker for United" movement.

By the way, apparently Veloso had a shocker tonight against Benfica (5-3 to Sporting) although he was playing in central defence.