http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/6639733.stm
Ferguson plots next move
By Phil McNulty
Chief football writer
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson had hardly stopped
popping the champagne corks on his ninth title triumph when he was
indentifying next season's most dangerous enemy.
Man Utd boss Sir Alex Ferguson and Chelsea counterpart Jose
Mourinho
Ferguson knows Mourinho will be plotting to win back the
title
And it was no surprise that the enemy in question comes in the
shape of dethroned and wounded former champions Chelsea.
Armed with Roman Abramovich's limitless transfer fund and still
searching in vain for a Champions League triumph, Jose Mourinho has
no intention of getting used to second place in the
Premiership.
But Ferguson has signalled United are ready for a fight - with
noises coming out of Old Trafford suggesting he will be handed a
£50m transfer fighting fund by the Glazers.
So what areas will Ferguson need to concentrate on to keep Chelsea
off the scent of another title?
GOALKEEPERS
Ferguson is well blessed in this area, with the experienced Edwin
van der Sar - who endured an uncertain end to the season - braced
for fierce competition from new England cap Ben Foster.
Foster was outstanding, even in Watford's relegation, and with an
England place potentially up for grabs, will have no intention of
sitting on the sidelines.
Tomasz Kuszczak is also on hand, although he may be strictly third
choice.
DEFENDERS
United's defensive record was outstanding, especially when a
preferred back four of Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic
and Patrice Evra was in full working order.
But injuries took a toll, and with Gabriel Heinze looking a shadow
of the player he was before a serious knee injury, defence is an
area Ferguson may feel requires attention.
Southampton left-back Gareth Bale is a prime target, but is very
much one for the future.
Southampton defender Gareth Bale
Gareth Bale turned down Spurs and may now join Man Utd
So what about the right-back berth, where Gary Neville is
increasingly troubled by injury, and where he appears to have no
natural deputy, despite the best efforts of Darren Fletcher and
John O'Shea?
Neville is the consummate professional and a huge influence who
will play his full part next season, but Ferguson must look at
finding an eventual successor.
Ferguson is unlikely to see central defence as a priority area for
strengthening, with John O'Shea, Wes Brown and Mikael Silvestre as
cover for Ferdinand and Vidic.
But Bale and a new right-back could arrive.
MIDFIELD
No prizes for guessing who's coming here.
Bayern Munich midfield man Owen Hargreaves is a nailed-on arrival
to play the vital role of midfield anchor man.
If United have a failing, it is that their all-out commitment to
attack - a trademark of Ferguson's approach to management - can
leave them vulnerable at the back against teams of the highest
quality.
Owen Hargreaves
Owen Hargreaves has made no secet of his desire to join Man
Utd
It has made United look vulnerable at the sharp end in Europe, as
AC Milan so brutally exposed in the Champions League
semi-final.
Few Premiership teams have the quality to probe this flaw, but in
Europe it has been a major contributor to United's relative
under-achievement in the Champions League since their 1999
win.
Hargreaves will provide the perfect foil for the steady Michael
Carrick and for Paul Scholes - keeping the back door closed while
the rejuvenated former England man performs his creative
brilliance.
Carrick is a reliable rather than sparkling figure, while Scholes
provides the cutting edge. Hargreaves would give United that
resilient, dogged quality in midfield.
The wide positions are well covered by the ageless Ryan Giggs and
Cristiano Ronaldo, with Darren Fletcher able to cover across the
midfield.
Kieran Richardson is also an option - but this will be a
make-or-break season for him. He will either finally show
consistency or be allowed to move on.
ATTACK
This will arguably be the most fascinating aspect of United's
summer recruitment policy.
Ferguson has had 20 goals each from Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney, but
with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer coming to the end of his career and Louis
Saha's lack of appearances seemingly an increasing source of
frustration, he will beef up his attack with a high-quality
addition.
The question will be - what sort of player does he go for?
Will Ferguson go for the out-and-out goalscorer or a man who
provides the best of both worlds?
If he goes for the natural predator, this may bring Tottenham's
Jermain Defoe into the equation.
But watch out for a move for Newcastle's Michael Owen should he
prove his fitness.
Ferguson has been a massive admirer for many years, and don't bet
against the fiercely ambitious Owen being willing to leave
Newcastle, despite having just spent 12 months on the treatment
table.
Newcastle striker Michael Owen
Could Michael Owen be the shock name on Man Utd's shopping
list?
Owen will still want the major trophies that have eluded him -
namely the Premiership and the Champions League - and he will not
get those at Newcastle.
Ferguson may go for the all-round option by attempting to sign a
creator and a scorer in the form of brilliant Spurs striker Dimitar
Berbatov - or even finally persuade Atletico Madrid's Fernando
Torres to try the Premiership.
One thing is for certain, he will buy a forward and Owen might be
worth a punt for those fancying a bet.
If he lands the man he wants, Ferguson will have an array of
riches, with Rooney the spearhead and Alan Smith on the road back
to full fitness.
Ferguson has already handed his list to chief executive David Gill
even before the Premiership trophy has been handed over.
He means business - because he knows his great rival Mourinho will
be plotting behind the scenes to ensure there is no repeat of the
scenes of celebration planned for Old Trafford this Sunday.
