Sir Alex Ferguson has warned Manchester United's supporters not to expect a host of fresh arrivals at Old Trafford by revealing he plans to sign only one player before the season begins in August. United have been linked with summer moves for Dimitar Berbatov and Roque Santa Cruz but, aged 27 and 26 respectively, neither appears to fit the type of youthful player Ferguson says he is now in pursuit of.
United's manager expects more meaningful player movement following the conclusion of Euro 2008, but has no plans to become heavily involved. "The European Championship derails transfer activity," he said. "Nothing really happens while the championships are on. Now it is all over, things will settle down. Managers are back at clubs, back at training and you can get some dialogue now if you are interested in somebody, but I wouldn't think [we will sign] any more than one player."
When pressed on what position he may look to strengthen, Ferguson highlighted age as a key factor. "We are just looking at one or two things," he added. "People think it is easy to buy players nowadays but it isn't. Money plays a big part and clubs with ambition don't want to sell their best players so it is not as easy as you think. We tend to look for younger ones because of that." United, of course, have already lost out on such a player, the Welsh teenager Aaron Ramsey, to Arsenal.
Ferguson was in relaxed mood before taking part in a charity golf event at Loch Lomond this morning, hailing Spain's European Championship victory as a triumph for football and admitting he does not see any team from outside his own, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal challenging for next season's Premier League crown.
Only an inevitable question over the future of Cristiano Ronaldo could briefly vex the 66-year-old. "I'm not interested, I'm not going to talk about that," was the Scot's terse reply. However, when later discussing United's potential for the season ahead, Ferguson supplied tacit admission that he fully expects the Portuguese winger to remain at the club, despite prolonged speculation that Ronaldo wishes to sign for Real Madrid.
"There is some development still to come in the team," Ferguson said. "There are some young players who in periods last season did very well and in periods showed their youthfulness by being inconsistent. I think they will have come on a bundle after winning the league and European Cup; that can only help us. Players like Anderson, Nani, Rooney, Ronaldo, they will emerge from that without doubt and become top players for us."
Ferguson also offered words of encouragement to the more senior members of his squad. Confident that Ryan Giggs can supply "25 games of real quality" and Paul Scholes "will give us another couple of years at the top level", the manager backed Gary Neville to return to top-flight football despite an injury-ravaged 15 months.
"Hopefully Gary Neville will come back, I'm sure he can," said Ferguson. "At 33, it is always difficult when you have been out of the game for a year but he is such a determined character, you wouldn't bet against him coming back. If he does, it is another string to our bow in terms of experience, which is important.
"He has a great determination in his game and that gives him a chance to come back. And he still has the desire, of course. He is the captain of the club, that gives him an incentive, he knows when he comes back he will be the captain."
Another United veteran, the 37-year-old goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, has been told by Ferguson to "take as much holiday as he wants" following his exertions for Holland in Euro 2008.
