MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGER Alex Ferguson has revealed that his summer spending may not be over.
Japan international Shinja Kagawa, acquired from Borussia Dortmund, and former Crewe midfielder Nick Powell were presented to the media at Old Trafford today.
However, the 70-year-old admitted that he was still working on bringing further new faces into his squad. He told reporters: “It’s possible we could bring one more signing in, maybe two more. But probably one.
“We’ve always done well in terms of getting players at the end of the season, instead of waiting all summer,” the Scot said. ”In Kagawa’s case, there was a fair bit of negotiating and that kept going for weeks. As for Powell, we knew Dario Gradi (Crewe’s director of football) would help us do the deal quickly.
“I asked Dario if Nick could be a central midfielder,” Ferguson added of the youngster, who had played in a more forward role at the League One club. “Dario thinks that’s his position and Nick does too so we’re all in accord. We hope he’ll be a central midfield player and that’s where we’ll develop him.”
Whilst unveiling his latest recruits, Ferguson hinted that the signing of Kagawa in particular could help bring back the title to Old Trafford, having lost out to local rivals Manchester City last season.
“Kagawa will play further forward,” he said. ”We shouldn’t be looking at one player changing the way we play but he could make a difference. He can give us that extra in the final third of the field. If his goalscoring record continues he could be a very good player for us. Once he’s adapted and gets to know some football phrases our players will use, he’ll be used to that. He can start the first league game quite easily. I’ve got no problem with that.”
Powell will join Kagawa on United’s pre-season tours of South Africa and China and Ferguson confirmed that the youngster will be involved with the first team straight away.
“I think in Nick’s case, he’s got a bit of physical development to do, just as we would expect of an 18-year-old. But he’ll be in the first-team squad and train with us every day,” Ferguson said. ”Football throws up opportunities for young players and we play young players all the time.”
