I am always saying that Manchester United needs to do this and do that...but I have never really put those views on the blog for the most part...so - if I was Sir Alex Ferguson - here is what I would do in the summer transfer window.  First of all - these are going to be realistic moves...yes I know in dream world the Red Devils would just go out and buy Cristiano Ronaldo, Xabi Alonso, Kaka & Benzema but since this is the real world - I am going to stick to business economics as well.

                                                                  
First thing is first - this team needs a goal scoring threat to go along side Wayne Rooney.  Rooney has been absolutely world class since becoming "The Man!"  But this team does need to get him some help.  Berbatov, Owen or anyone else on the roster at this time is not the answer for one of the top 5-10 clubs in the world.  Berbatov will be sold (he still has value) to help make this acquisition possible, but Owen stays for depth and experience.  This team also needs to find a left winger that can replace Ryan Giggs.  Yes, Giggs is playing like he is 24 and if he hadn't been playing like that so far this year - who knows where United would be in the standings.  So, with all that said, they should make an offer to Valencia FC that they can't refuse for both David Villa and David Silva.  Silva has already come out and said he would welcome the chance to play for the Red Devils...and I'm sure if he goes - Villa would become interested as well.  Doesn't the guy want to compete on the biggest club stage in the world while in his prime?  Villa is not going to get that at Valencia.  That would give United Rooney and Villa up top and a midfield of Silva and Valencia on the wings with Carrick/Fletcher/Anderson in the middle.

Now at the back.  Evra is a top flight left back and I like the kid Rafael on the right side...but what if you would offer Rio Ferdinand to Jose Mourinho and Inter Milan for Douglas Maicon and cash.  The replacement for Ferdinand is already on the roster - Jonny Evans.  With Maicon and Evra on the flanks - United could really get down the flanks with pace and skill and you would also have a quality mentor in Maicon for Rafael because Gary Neville is as big a donkey as there is.  Sell the guy for a couple bags of balls and get on with it.  In goal, Edwin Van Der Sar is getting up there, so it is time to find a replacement that can handle the pressure of playing on the biggest stage.  With that said, 23 year old Igor Akinfeev from CSKA Moskva seems like the perfect fit.  And to help with his transition to England and the Premier League - try to snag one of the Berezutsky twins to help with that - and they would also be great depth at the back.

So - if I was Sir Alex and I could get all of this to work - the starting lineup for kickoff of the 2010-11 season for Manchester United would be:

                                                                                      Akinfeev

                                                             Maicon     Vidic     Evans     Evra

                                                                                       Carrick

                                                             Valencia           Anderson          Silva

                                                                               Rooney       Villa


Now this team could win the Premier League, as well as, Champions League.  It also gets the Red Devils younger, much younger.  And even better - it doesn't cost them as much as you would think.  Yes, Villa and Silva would be a pretty penny - but maybe throwing Berbatov in can bring that price down 15-20 Million.  You get some cash back in the Ferdinand/Maicon deal.  And you turn around and give that to CSKA for Akinfeev and the twin.  Throw Kuszczak in the deal and that helps bring that price down a bit too.  It's just my thoughts on how the Red Devils can get younger, as well as continue to compete on the world stage.  Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!!

Written by the Staff of the Goalmouth Scramble