Manchester United Transfers: Predicting Sir Alex Ferguson's Summer Plans

Manchester United are champions of the Premier League. But that doesn't preclude Sir Alex Ferguson from considering ways to improve his squad in the offseason.

Last summer brought Robin van Persie to Old Trafford, and while Ferguson has vacillated on his possible expenditures for the upcoming transfer window, there's no doubt some serious plans are in the works.

"We're competitive in the market," he told the BBC. "We're not Chelsea or Manchester City in terms of money," he continued, not so subtly digging at his second- and third-place rivals, "but we're competitive."

Who could they be pursuing? Well, Atletico Madrid's Colombian striker Falcao is purported to be on Sir Alex's wish list (per the Daily Mail). So is Borussia Dortmund four-goal man Robert Lewandowski (courtesy of the Telegraph).

"We have been targeting the players that we feel could enhance us, make us better or help us maintain the level we're at," the 71-year-old Scotsman told Inside United.

Sir Alex has stressed, however, that the youthful core of the current side should not require any sort of major overhaul. 

"David De Gea, Rafael, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Alex Büttner, Nick Powell, Tom Cleverley and Danny Welbeck. Shinji Kagawa and Chicharito are 24," Ferguson suggested. "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."

So what lies ahead for Manchester United, Ferguson and the Red Devils' first team? The graphic below spells out the details.

All contract information courtesy of transfermarkt.co.uk

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