Sir Alex Ferguson is hoping to beat big spenders Chelsea and Manchester City to secure his United transfer targets this summer.
The Old Trafford club have already been linked to high-profile signings such as Atletico Madrid’s Falcao and Robert Lewandowski from Champions League finalists Dortmund.
The Red Devils boss is aware of his rivals spending power, but is confident United can be competitive, and has already identified suitable targets.
“Hopefully the players we bring into the club in the next year or so will be of the quality we need,” he told Inside United.
“We’re competitive in the market – we’re not Chelsea or Manchester City in terms of money, but we’re competitive.
“We’ve been doing a bit of work on that over the last three or four months, targeting who the players are that we feel could enhance us, make us better or help us maintain the level we’re at.”
United wrapped up an unprecedented 20th league title this campaign and Ferguson is looking to build his future side around the talented youngsters already at his disposal.
“You have to look at the structure of the club at present, in terms of the number of first-team players we have at 23 or under,” he added.
“David De Gea, Rafael, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling, [while also] Alex Büttner, Nick Powell, Tom Cleverley and Danny Welbeck. Shinji Kagawa and Chicharito are 24. Jonny Evans is 25 and Wayne Rooney is hitting his peak at 27.
“Older players like Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Rio Ferdinand may be coming towards the end of their careers, but these younger players are the foundation for the next five or six years.
“Irrespective of the players breaking through, like Adnan Januzaj, the Belgian boy, who’s really looking very good.”
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