KEY SUMMER: Manchester United boss Sir Alex FergusonSir Alex Ferguson and Roberto Mancini have a common aim as they get back behind their desks this week to review battle plans for the fast-approaching season.
Their mission is simple – to beat Barca.
The brilliant Barcelona team raised the bar in their humbling of United in the Champions League final at Wembley in May, leaving managers worldwide scratching their heads about how can they possibly better the superstar team built with an ethos of skill with a swagger, rather than power and speed.
Fergie and his opposite number at City will be sitting less than a mile apart at the respective training Carrington bases as they agonise over strategies for the Champions League and Premier League campaigns.
Number one priority is reinforcements – and thinking big and getting it right is vital on the recruitment front.
Fergie was first off the mark, splashing out £50m on Phil Jones, Ashley Young and goal keeper David de Gea, while City will welcome Arsenal’s £7m Gael Clichy to swifty solve the problematic left-back position.
A major signing won’t be easy though.
Alex Sanchez – the number one £35m summer target for the majority of Europe’s elite clubs including Manchester’s big two – looks increasingly likely to get his wish and sign for Barcelona.
There has been unprecendented speculation about the possible comings and goings so far this summer with the Reds and Blues at the centre of much of it.
Samir Nasri, the brilliant French playmaker for instance who is in the last year of his Arsenal contract. He’d be a natural replacement for Paul Scholes at Old Trafford but Fergie is reported as saying he thnks he’s off to Eastlands where the midfield is surely the strongest part of the squad.
Nasri’s own words however will give United fans hope as he’s said money will not be the motivating factor as he decides his next club.
Both United and City remain interested in Luka Modric at Tottenham although he fancies Chelsea but the big issue is would his team mate Gareth Bale be allowed to leave White Hart Lane.
He is the sort of player both Fergie and Mancini should break the bank for... a wideman with pace to burn and significantly capable of getting into the Barcelona team.
So too would Wesley Sneijder who has been on the United radar for months. City’s hierarchy have not given up all hope about Sanchez, and why not have a go at tempting Cristiano Ronaldo from Madrid?
Both United and City have strong, capable squads - but if Manchester is to become the captial of world football, rather than just the best of British, then a genuine superstar signing is required to start the chase for Barca's crown.
Their mission is simple – to beat Barca.
The brilliant Barcelona team raised the bar in their humbling of United in the Champions League final at Wembley in May, leaving managers worldwide scratching their heads about how can they possibly better the superstar team built with an ethos of skill with a swagger, rather than power and speed.
Fergie and his opposite number at City will be sitting less than a mile apart at the respective training Carrington bases as they agonise over strategies for the Champions League and Premier League campaigns.
Number one priority is reinforcements – and thinking big and getting it right is vital on the recruitment front.
Fergie was first off the mark, splashing out £50m on Phil Jones, Ashley Young and goal keeper David de Gea, while City will welcome Arsenal’s £7m Gael Clichy to swifty solve the problematic left-back position.
A major signing won’t be easy though.
Alex Sanchez – the number one £35m summer target for the majority of Europe’s elite clubs including Manchester’s big two – looks increasingly likely to get his wish and sign for Barcelona.
There has been unprecendented speculation about the possible comings and goings so far this summer with the Reds and Blues at the centre of much of it.
Samir Nasri, the brilliant French playmaker for instance who is in the last year of his Arsenal contract. He’d be a natural replacement for Paul Scholes at Old Trafford but Fergie is reported as saying he thnks he’s off to Eastlands where the midfield is surely the strongest part of the squad.
Nasri’s own words however will give United fans hope as he’s said money will not be the motivating factor as he decides his next club.
Both United and City remain interested in Luka Modric at Tottenham although he fancies Chelsea but the big issue is would his team mate Gareth Bale be allowed to leave White Hart Lane.
He is the sort of player both Fergie and Mancini should break the bank for... a wideman with pace to burn and significantly capable of getting into the Barcelona team.
So too would Wesley Sneijder who has been on the United radar for months. City’s hierarchy have not given up all hope about Sanchez, and why not have a go at tempting Cristiano Ronaldo from Madrid?
Both United and City have strong, capable squads - but if Manchester is to become the captial of world football, rather than just the best of British, then a genuine superstar signing is required to start the chase for Barca's crown.
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