Not only are senior players under scrutiny, but other staff at
Old Trafford are operating under a cloud of suspicion.
Key players - including Nemanja Vidic, Michael Carrick, Ben
Foster and Nani - are all playing for their futures.
Off the field, chief operating officer Michael Bolingbroke has
been side-tracked, interviewing employees about events following a
staff party at the club's Red Café last month.
Feelings are running high among the 700 people employed at the
club, but that won't get in Sir Alex Ferguson's way as he plans for
the future of his squad.
The United manager is laying the groundwork for Serbian defender
Vidic to leave next summer by routinely monitoring the form of
Palermo defender Simon Kjaer.
The Danish centre-half has a release clause in his contract with
the Italians worth £10million and is being primed for a move to Old
Trafford.
Ferguson is also convinced Northern Ireland international Jonny
Evans, despite acknowledging his lack of pace, will emerge as a
top-class central defender alongside Rio Ferdinand.
The United boss is concerned because the volatile Vidic is
becoming increasingly irritable, taking out his frustrations in
training-ground tackles on junior players.
Federico Macheda and Danny Welbeck have been on the end of some
crude challenges recently, part of an ongoing problem with Vidic
identified in training.
Vidic's form has also dipped. He was sent off against Liverpool
for the third successive game last month and returned to the team
yesterday only because of injuries.
Other players are also in the firing line, with Ferguson
contemplating the futures of Carrick, Foster and motormouth
Nani.
Goalkeeper Foster's relationship with Ferguson reached breaking
point following the 2-2 draw with Sunderland on October 3.
The United chief launched into his full hairdryer treatment in
the dressing room after Foster's weak jump and mistake led to
Kenwyne Jones' second-half strike.
Foster was immediately axed from the first team, replaced in
goal by Edwin van der Sar against Bolton and losing his status as
No 2 to Tomas Kuszczak.
It prompted a Foster outburst against Ferguson in the media,
following his appearance for England in the 1-0 loss to Brazil, and
although he has apologised for the controversial comments, Fergie
is still furious with the keeper.
In his interview, Foster begged to be allowed to go out on loan
to play first-team football and preserve his World Cup dream, but
Ferguson slammed that door shut during talks last week.
The United manager has made it clear that he will not tolerate
any more indiscreet comments from the keeper.
He has been told he is staying at Old Trafford, and ordered to
battle it out with Kuszczak for the right to be van der Sar's
understudy.
Under-performing midfielder Nani, who was expected to emerge
from the shadow of departing Cristiano Ronaldo this season, but has
been a huge disappointment, is another player in the firing
line.
While away on World Cup qualifying duty last week, the Portugal
international winger accused Ferguson of shattering his
confidence.
Like Foster, Nani apologised for his incendiary comments during
a meeting with the manager, but despite Ferguson's public backing,
the tricky winger is clearly in the danger-zone.
Former West Ham and Tottenham midfielder Carrick is also
uncertain of his position, with old club Spurs retaining an
interest in a deal involving Croatia star Luka Modric heading for
Old Trafford.
Ferguson believes England international Carrick, who has scored
just once for United this season, should have more say in the
centre of midfield.
Carrick's role is just one of several vulnerable positions
Ferguson has pinpointed in the team, instructing his brother Martin
to find replacements.
Despite long-standing interest in Valencia playmaker David
Silva, there is a belief that he does not have the speed for the
Premier League.
Other positions being considered are at left back, where
Ferguson wants an understudy to the excellent Patrice Evra.
Despite showing promise after their move from Brazil, twins
Rafael and Fabio da Silva have failed to make the grade.
Ferguson also wants another central midfielder next summer and a
striker to support Wayne Rooney.
The United chief insists he will not spend big in the January
transfer window, claiming his targets are all being quoted "around
the £50million mark".
Ferguson said: "I am in the same position as I was in the
summer. I don't see any value in the market.
"We get a million names thrown at us, all valued at
£50million."
Instead, he will wait until the end of the season before he
twists the Glazers' arms and demands sufficient spending power.
That will be tough, with post-World Cup transfer fees
notoriously high, but Ferguson has promised his coaching staff he
intends to rebuild the team again.
There is also considerable uncertainty off the field, with
redundancies and cutbacks at United's Carrington training complex
upsetting some staff.
In addition, the club's chief operating officer turned his
attention to more pressing matters this week.
Bolingbroke and the club's human resources department have been
in overdrive, interviewing staff about the events of Friday,
October 23.
The club is awash with rumours after a staff party at the Red
Café ended when some of them moved on to the Fantasy Bar in
Manchester.
Staff earning between £18,000-£20,000 are living in fear of the
investigation which centres on one high-ranking member of staff at
Old Trafford.
Officially the club insist that "what staff did after the party
at Red Café is of no concern to the club".