Manchester United: Which New Players Will Sir Alex Ferguson Select by 2015?

When sports journalists and fans discuss their ideal football team, the starting 11 generally features a host of 22 to 27-year-olds.

A tad bit more diminutive than the average footballer, each of the players have excellent pace, fantastic ball skills, and the ability to contribute on either side of the pitch.

Following this model, with veteran Frenchman Patrice Evra four years older than the second-most senior player in United's regular starting 11, fans and sportswriters alike have begun to salivate over Fergie's collection of budding stars as the team to lead United to European dominance for the next decade.

Unfortunately, their grandiose vision doesn't match reality.

Instead, many top, young players are certain to leave for one reason or another. Fortunately for United, Fergie has always managed to find the right players to replace his departing stars.

With David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tévez serving as living proof that even the best sides don't remain intact, here are five players who could eventually feature for the Red Devils' first team.

Ross Barkley

Managers at most of the world's top clubs tend to take a smash 'n grab approach to building their team's fortunes.

Using their financier's massive wealth, club bosses such as Manchester City's Roberto Mancini and Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho tend to simply outbid smaller opponents in pursuit of the highest profile players on the market.

While certainly no pauper, Sir Alex Ferguson takes a more measured approach, and instead relies on a carefully constructed talent pipeline. 

In much the same way that a prestigious American law firm recruits predominately from Ivy League Schools, Fergie focuses primarily on snapping up the most talented players from the United Kingdom.

With 14 current senior team players calling the British Isles home, Sir Alex Ferguson should have no problem reaching out to Everton youngster Ross Barkley. A hulking central midfielder with the build of a center-half and the touch of a trequartista, the seemingly veteran playmaker is, astonishingly, only 17 years old. 

Though certainly too young to label the English heir to Steven Gerrard, Fergie would do well to prevent him from falling to Kenny Dalglish's side (though as an Everton player, this would be unlikely). 

Anyway, with United always in the market for a dynamic central midfielder, and former Everton youngster Wayne Rooney encouraging a move, look for Barkley to join the United midfield within the next three years.

Gareth Bale

I'm thinking of a veteran Welsh left winger who just happens to be one of the best to ever play the game. Any guesses?

No, the answer isn't Craig Bellamy.

As you just might happen to recall, Welshman Ryan Giggs has made over 800 appearances for Sir Alex, and has scored well over 100 goals in his remarkable 21-year career.

While probably not a diehard Giggsy loyalist, Tottenham superstar Gareth Bale grew up watching his countryman excel under Fergie's tutelage. Surely, he can do the same, right?

Transfer rumors have recently linked him with moves to Inter or Barcelona, but these moves are highly improbable.

In fact, the last British player I remember playing in Serie A was...Luther Blissett!

Also considering that former EPL stars David Beckham and Michael Owen failed to impress in La Liga, I suspect Bale will wisely elect to stay in the English Premier League. 

When fledgling Tottenham finally realize they cannot afford to keep their prized asset, look for Bale to exploit the Fergie pipeline running directly from White Hart Lane to Old Trafford.

He won't come cheap, but Bale will eventually wear red.

Someone from Borussia Dortmund

Recently linked with the likes of Mario Götze and Shinji Kagawa, Manchester United is one of many top teams which hope to pluck at least one youngster from Jurgen Klopp's the reigning Bundesliga championship Borussia Dortmund side.

With most Bundesliga stars preferring powerhouse Bayern Munich, Fergie would normally fail in an attempt to recruit a top player from Germany. 

However, with Dortmund likely to eventually sell central midfielder Sven Bender and center-halves Mats Hummels and Neven Subotić, along with Götze and Kagawa, Fergie might actually be able to hit on one of these targets.

While we can't predict where United will have the greatest need two or three years from now, Mats Hummels would more than adequately replace Rio Ferdinand and/or perhaps Nemanja Vidic. A sharp tackler, Hummels always keeps his head up in defense and can drop 50-yard passes right onto his strikers' toes.

Ravel Morrison

With Tom Cleverly and Danny Welbeck demonstrating that Fergie can still develop his own players, 18-year-old youth team star Ravel Morrison might well prove to be the best player Fergie never had to buy.

One of many talented youngsters on the 2010-2011 Youth FA Cup-winning United side, Morrison combines the size and strength of Patrick Vieira with the skillful touch of Frank Lampard. Along with eventual United and England teammate Ross Barkley, Fergie will eventually boast the two most elegant brutes in English football.

If Rooney fulfills my expectations and stupidly tests his luck in Spain, Fergie could very well reorganize his exceptionally talented squad around Morrison's playmaking. 

If the youngster can stay healthy, and out of jail, I suspect he will rapidly develop into a top-tier player.

Brek Shea

Who the heck is Brek Shea?

I know, he's probably a rather unpopular inclusion in this list.

Anyway, for those of you who don't live in the United States, we Americans have longed for a player to feature regularly for a top club since our surprising quarterfinals appearance in the 2002 World Cup.

Landon Donovan nearly earned a spot at on Bayer Munich's roster, Oguchi Onyewu would have played for AC Milan had he not succumbed to injury, and Clint Dempsey should have been offered by Arsenal or Liverpool.

While the gangly 21-year-old winger initially appears an unlikely fit for any top team, he has impressed mightily for the United States Men's National Team, demonstrating superb footwork, incisive vision and deceptive speed.

Also playing exceptionally well for his club, FC Dallas, Shea could help Fergie meet his annual quota of random dudes who could either shine (Javier Hernández) or suck (Bébé).