Manchester United: Sir Alex Fears City May Swoop in to Steal Transfer Targets

Nicolas Gaitan, Fernando Llorente, Iker Muniain, Shinji Kagawa.

A list of only a few of the names that Manchester United have been heavily linked to signing in the upcoming summer transfer window.

How realistic each of these targets are is up for debate.

Certainly the three more midfield-minded players in the aforementioned list should in theory be within United's budget, and each would make a strong addition to the side.

Fernando Llorente on the other hand will cost a bundle for any side wanting to sign him.

The Atletico Bilbao and Spain international is one of the most sought out and highly rated strikers in world football at the current moment in time, with the likes of both Real Madrid and Barcelona eyeing up a bid for him.

However, nothing is out of the question for Manchester City.

With the money and resources the club has available, they have the potential to bring "any" player to the Etihad.

Obviously, no matter how much money some players are offered, they will more than likely turn a move to Manchester down—with most notably the likes of Xavi, Messi and Casillas in mind.

That being said, should City wish to sign any of United's targets for the summer, they would easily be able to outbid the red half of Manchester.

Cast your minds back to just a year ago, when Samir Nasri wanted a move away from the Emirates.

After a lengthy period of speculation that the Frenchman would end up at Old Trafford, it was instead Roberto Mancini who managed to steal in with a bid that United could not realistically match.

The problem isn't just the bids themselves that United (and the rest of the English division) can't match.

Manchester City have enough money to offer players they are really keen on signing, ridiculously high wages.

In a recent interview with the Guardian, Sir Alex came out and said that it would be impossible to compete with City in this respect.

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"No one can match their financial resources, no one.We have to accept that and try to do things in a different way."

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This "different way" is something that United have become famous for over the years.

The development of youth players at Old Trafford has been pivotal for the success that Fergie and United have enjoyed over the past two decades.

Countless world-class talents have risen up through the United Academy into the first team.

If Sir Alex is to continue to have success with the Red Devils, then this also has to continue.

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"We are good at bringing younger players through, so we'll stick with that, though whether there's a new Paul Scholes or Ryan Giggs out there is difficult to say. Players of that quality certainly don't fall off trees."

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Tom Cleverly and Danny Welbeck have shown this season that the youth system that Manchester United employs is still working to a terrific standard.

Factor in the likes of Chris Smalling and Phil Jones, and there is still a lot of hope for United's future.

Fergie went on, suggesting that there will still be attempts at bringing in players over the summer.

Predictably Gaitan and Kagawa.

Both men would slot in nicely to the United system, with a little work of course.

As for City's, and to a lesser extent Real Madrid's, transfer policies, well, it only harms world football.

The gross inflation of the transfer market makes it a lot harder for teams who aren't already established names, to make any progress in footballing hierarchy.

That being said, Newcastle United have shown us this season that you don't need to splash the cash to succeed.

Papiss Cisse, Dembe Ba and Yohan Cabaye have all been brought in for peanuts compared to the lavish expenses of Torres and Carroll.

Still, as long as City have the money to spend, they will always have first pick of players.

For the sake of United fans, let's just hope those players aren't the same ones that Fergie wants.