SWOOP ... Fergie will target Joao
Moutinho
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.
STURDY ...
Veloso
Sun 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.
