Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed Manchester United missed out on one target during the January transfer window - before confirming they will likely make a second attempt to complete the mystery signing in the summer.
While Ferguson conceded that rich benefactors had distorted the transfer market in recent seasons - perhaps a sly dig at Manchester City, who United beat on Saturday thanks to wonderful goal from Wayne Rooney - the Scot reassured fans that the club will continue to spend sizeable sums in future, as and when it is deemed necessary.
"Billionaire owners have introduced a new world that is turning football on its head," Ferguson told United Review. "For our part, we cannot afford to sit in an ivory tower. We have to face the challenge.
"It is a healthy competition and it goes without saying that we will not shirk it and I don't think we are doing so. Although I let the transfer window shut without signing a new player, that is because we did our homework some time ago and didn't have to rush into any emergency buying."
Indeed, despite saying on countless occasions throughout the January transfer window that the club would not be making any signings, he admitted United missed out on one target they attempted to sign, a move they will look to revive in the summer.
"We had an interest in one player, and I thought we had a chance of bringing him in, but the other parties involved weren't ready and so we have put it away until the summer," Ferguson said.
After beating arch-rivals City on Saturday, United now sit four points clear from nearest rivals Arsenal at the top of the Premier League.
While Ferguson conceded that rich benefactors had distorted the transfer market in recent seasons - perhaps a sly dig at Manchester City, who United beat on Saturday thanks to wonderful goal from Wayne Rooney - the Scot reassured fans that the club will continue to spend sizeable sums in future, as and when it is deemed necessary.
"Billionaire owners have introduced a new world that is turning football on its head," Ferguson told United Review. "For our part, we cannot afford to sit in an ivory tower. We have to face the challenge.
"It is a healthy competition and it goes without saying that we will not shirk it and I don't think we are doing so. Although I let the transfer window shut without signing a new player, that is because we did our homework some time ago and didn't have to rush into any emergency buying."
Indeed, despite saying on countless occasions throughout the January transfer window that the club would not be making any signings, he admitted United missed out on one target they attempted to sign, a move they will look to revive in the summer.
"We had an interest in one player, and I thought we had a chance of bringing him in, but the other parties involved weren't ready and so we have put it away until the summer," Ferguson said.
After beating arch-rivals City on Saturday, United now sit four points clear from nearest rivals Arsenal at the top of the Premier League.
