Sir Alex Ferguson has handed Michael Owen the Manchester United number seven shirt - and declared Old Trafford closed for transfer business.

It was anticipated Ferguson would make further signings in addition to Owen, Antonio Valencia and Gabriel Obertan, who joined last week from Bordeaux.

But, faced with a market over-inflated by Real Madrid and Manchester City, Ferguson has decided his current squad is good enough to challenge for an unprecedented fourth consecutive league title, even though Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez have left.

He said: “It is the end of our business, so all these stories about who we are supposed to be getting - forget it.”

It means Owen will take over Ronaldo’s shirt and his place in an attacking line-up containing Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov, plus youngsters Daniel Welbeck and Federico Macheda, who will both be given a chance to prove they are worthy of the accolades that have been bestowed on them.

“They are both young players - but young players with ability always get a chance here.”

Sir Alex Ferguson has tipped new signing Antonio Valencia to make a significant contribution to Manchester United’s bid for an unprecedented fourth league title on the trot.

United confirmed their first summer arrival this evening as the 23-year-old signed a lucrative four-year contract.

Although the Red Devils have not specified a fee, it is believed they have spent around £16million of the world record £80million banked from the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo.

And, while it is not expected Valencia will represent the end of Ferguson’s spending, the United boss is already tipping the South American to make a big impact.

“Antonio is a player we have admired for some time now, having spent the last two years in the Premier League with Wigan,” he said.

“I am sure his pace and ability will make a significant contribution to the team.”

If nothing else, Valencia’s arrival ensures Wayne Rooney should be given the more central berth he craves next season as the Ecuador star is unlikely to venture into the middle quite as much as Ronaldo.

As he has already gone through the Premier League settling-in period after spending two seasons with the Latics, there are no worries over whether Valencia can adapt either.

His lack of English may be a concern initially, although the main doubt of most United fans is a goalscoring return of just seven in 83 appearances for Wigan and four in 34 for his country.

Even though few would expect Valencia alone to match Ronaldo’s phenomenal recent output, better will be expected from a player who spent a short time as a team-mate of former United star Diego Forlan at Villarreal.

Forlan’s experience proves players of high quality can struggle to make an impact at Old Trafford, although Valencia is looking forward to the opportunity.

“Joining Manchester United is a dream come true for me,” he said.

“I have enjoyed my time at Wigan but I am thrilled to have the chance to challenge for the biggest honours in club football here.

“Playing in front of 76,000 fans alongside players like Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs will be an amazing experience.

“I can’t wait to get started.”

The first Ecuadorian to play for United will get his first opportunity on a four-match tour of Asia next month, before the Red Devils head for a four-team tournament in Munich.

By the time Ferguson’s side wrap up their pre-season programme against Valencia at Old Trafford on August 5 and head to Wembley for the Community Shield showdown with Chelsea, Valencia will have expected to be accustomed to his new surroundings.

Having turned down an approach from Real Madrid, Valencia is clearly keen to make an impact, although it is a measure of the vast sums of money that has been spent at the Bernabeu, what would normally constitute a significant signing - and is a club record for Wigan - is almost being greeted with a shrug of the shoulders.

“I hope the fans at Wigan can understand that I am an ambitious guy and a chance like this might never come again for me,” said Valencia, who will be 24 next month.

“I am happy that the club has benefited from the move financially because I owe them such a lot. I have had a great time here.”

Sir Alex Ferguson believes Manchester United did well to keep Cristiano Ronaldo at Old Trafford for as long as they did before finally succumbing to Real Madrid’s advances.

United’s acceptance of Madrid’s £80million bid for the Portugal play maker earlier this week brought an end to one of the longest-running transfer sagas of recent years.

Ronaldo’s desire to leave the reigning three-time Barclays Premier League champions had become all too apparent in recent months, and Ferguson insists it was out of the question to expect the player to stay any longer.

“He wanted to leave, it’s as simple as that,” Ferguson told The Mail on Sunday.

“He was going to go some time.

“We’ve done well to keep him for so long.”

Madrid’s record swoop for the FIFA World Player of the Year is set to be concluded by June 30.

Sir Alex Ferguson has got a £100million to spend on transfers after he personally gave the order for Cristiano Ronaldo to be sold to Real Madrid, the departure of Ronaldo will leave a big hole to fill in the United squad, which Sir Alex Ferguson will try to fill with the £80 million coming from by selling Ronaldo and £20 million will be handed over to him as transfer budget from the club.

Ever since the news of Ronaldo leaving the club has arrived the news papers are yelling just one thing out to Sir Alex Ferguson,

Spend, Spend, Spend

accordint to www.manutd.com (the clubs official web site),
United last night prepared to enter a bidding war with Chelsea for France international Franck Ribery which could go as high as £65m. Old Trafford boss Ferguson is also known to have Lyon’s £25m forward Karim Benzema on his hit list and he hopes to conclude the £16m signing of Wigan’s Antonio Valencia in the near future

the web site goes on to mention,
Wigan’s Ecuador winger Valencia has long been a Ferguson target and he will almost certainly join shortly while the United manager has not yet given up on persuading Carlos Tevez to stay on a long-term deal. As well as Benzema, Ferguson’s hit-list includes Barcelona holding player Yaya Toure. It is, however, the prospect of United going head to head with Chelsea for Bayern Munich’s Ribery that looks the most mouthwatering. Bayern have already indicated the 26-year-old is not for sale and it will take an offer of around £65m for the Frenchman to be prised away.

United have been linked with a host of top talents since Ronaldo’s potential departure was announced. The Guardian says Barcelona’s Samuel Eto’o could arrive, while wingers David Silva (The Times) and Arjen Robben (Daily Star) are also being monitored.

according to www.footballtransferleague.co.uk,
ManU’s most probable out this summer is none other than Carlos Tevez according to the website Carlos Tevez can leave United for either of the following clubs

• Manchester City
• Liverpool
• Real Madrid
• Chelsea
• Tottenham
• Inter Milan

and the most probable INs are

• Luis Antonio Valencia (Wigan)
• Karim Benzema (Lyon)
• Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich)
• Nicolas Bertolo (Atletico Banfield)
• Jose Rodolfo Pires Ribeiro Dodo (Corinthians)
• Neymar da Silva (Santos)
• Alexis Sanchez (Udinese)
• Walter Henrique da Silva (Internacional)
• Douglas Costa (Gremio)
• Victor Mongil (Real Valladolid)
• Aaron Lennon (Tottenham)
• Paul Pogba (Le Havre)
• Klaas Jan Huntelaar (Real Madrid)
• Kyle Naughton (Sheffield Utd)
• Arjen Robben (Real Madrid)
• David Silva (Valencia)
• Samuel Eto’o (Barcelona)

well £100million is a lot of money to burn, Sir Alex has got a huge responsibility on his shoulders to fill in Ronaldo’d boats. United fans will hope that he spend (which he usually does) spend this much of money in the right way to keep his squad tough for the next season.

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