Man Utd sell more players... but will they buy?

There is little sign of Sir Alex Ferguson making any big name signings this summer despite their failed Premier League campaign.

There has been much speculation about finding a long-term replacement for Paul Scholes only for him to be coaxed into playing for yet another season.

The only positive sign of changing the strikeforce of the squad after being outgunned by newly crowned champions Manchester City has been talks to woo Borussia Dortmund's Japanese international Shinji Kagawa.

Click to read Ferguson talks to Kagawa

However, they are not averse to offloading young players from Old Trafford with Leicester having sealed a deal to sign Ritchie De Laet and Matty James, according to the Daily Mail.
 
Belgian defender De Laet, 23, and English midfielder James, 20, will move to the King Power Stadium on three-year contracts, the npower Championship club announced.

De Laet had a loan spell with Norwich last season which ended early in January, after previous short-term stints at Sheffield United, Preston and Portsmouth.

Man Utd shocker: No big buys

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said on Monday he wasn't concerned by rivals and newly-crowned Premier League champions Manchester City's ability to out-bid them in the transfer market.

United lost out on successfully defending their title solely on goal difference to City on Sunday when two injury-time goals saw City to a 3-2 win over QPR and their first league crown in 44 years.

However, Ferguson said that he was not going to be forced into a change of transfer policy because of losing out to their city rivals and would stick to investing in young talent.

Click to read Last chance for Man Utd to buy Modric

"We know City are going to spend fortunes, pay stupid money and silly salaries. We know that happens. We can't do anything about that," the 70-year-old told MUTV at the United player of the year dinner.

"We are not like other clubs who can spend fortunes on proven goods.

“We invest in players who will be with the club for a long time, who will create the character of the club and the excitement for our fans.

Click to read Liverpool face battle for Gerrard back-up

Ferguson, who is believed to be targeting two stars from Borussia Dortmund's successful Bundesliga title defence Japanese international Shinji Kagawa and Polish star Robert Lewandowski, said there was no need for a large scale overhaul of his squad.

This despite finishing without a trophy, being knocked out of the Champions League at the group stage and letting an eight point lead over City in early April slip.

"We have set out our stall for certain players and we want to make sure the evolution continues at United," said Ferguson.

"We don't always win it because we are always there, which is great credit to how we view things.

Scholes commits another season for Man Utd

Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes will play on for another season, the Premier League club's manager Alex Ferguson said on Monday.

Another hint that United may not spend big in the transfer window.

The 37-year-old former England international quit at the end of the 2010-11 campaign but came out of retirement in January and played a key role in helping United finish second in the Premier League behind Manchester City.

"I am delighted, he knew he had made a mistake," Ferguson told MUTV at United's player of the year dinner. "He now realises if he plays 25 or 30 games next season, they will be of real quality.

"I think this will be Paul's last season. We know him very well. We have had him since he was a kid. We know how to use him."

With several United midfielders injured, Scholes made a shock return to the side as a substitute in the FA Cup third-round win at Manchester City in January and played 21 matches before the end of the season, scoring four goals.

Despite playing only half the campaign, Scholes finished third in the vote for England's Footballer of the Year, behind Arsenal striker Robin van Persie and United team mate Wayne Rooney.

There has been speculation that he could be included in England's European Championship squad which will be named by new coach Roy Hodgson on Wednesday.

Scholes, who won the last of his 66 England caps in 2004, has played nearly 700 games for United and scored 154 goals, helping the Old Trafford club win two Champions Leagues, 10 Premier League titles and three FA Cups.

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He made just six first-team appearances for United after a surprise move from Stoke in 2009.

Former England Under 19 captain James did not make a first-team breakthrough at Old Trafford. He spent two loan spells at Preston in 2010 but was troubled by injury in the season just ended.

Leicester manager Nigel Pearson told his club's website: "Ritchie and Matthew are both players we have been monitoring for some time and we are very pleased to be able to bring them both to the club.

"Both are hungry, young players with winning mentalities, experience of Championship football and a desire to be successful."

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