Brown injury causes concern for Fergie

Sir Alex Ferguson knows better than most that next season’s masterplan for domestic and European domination begins almost immediately and that sides who do not strengthen their squads go backwards very quickly.

Which is why the Old Trafford boss will be flicking through his black book of potential targets and lingering under the letter D – for defenders.

The news that centre-back Wes Brown will be out of action until Christmas with ruptured knee ligaments will only have hastened Ferguson’s quest to bolster his backline.

Veteran Laurent Blanc has retired, David May is out of contract and England right-back Gary Neville is a doubt for pre-season as he continues his rehabilitation from an operation to remove a screw from his foot – a remnant of the injury which kept him out of last year’s World Cup.

Added to that is Nicky Butt’s troublesome ankle injury, which required surgery last October and needs further treatment throughout the summer.

Having shelled out the best part of £30m (€42m) on Rio Ferdinand at the start of their title-winning campaign, Ferguson will not have been intending to go out and buy him a new partner.

Brown’s injury is a blow to the United manager, particularly given the 23-year-old’s injury history.

The England international took a full 12 months to return from the similar problem injury sustained in his right knee during an innocuous training ground incident in August 1999, since when he has suffered a succession of fitness problems.

“He had a succession of injuries over the past two years and it was a worry. It is bound to get you down after a while. He deserves a change of fortune because he is such a terrific player,” said Ferguson.

“Wes will undergo surgery shortly and it will be into next season before he is fit,” said a club statement.

“Nicky has had persistent problems with his right ankle.

“Following discussions with the England medical staff it is in Nicky’s best interests that he will have an injection into his ankle and he will be rested over the summer.”

The 28-year-old midfielder should be available for the start of next season, which does provide Ferguson with the fall-back option of playing skipper Roy Keane in central defence while he resumes his pursuit of Rennes’ out-of-contract French Under-21 international Julien Escude.

Chelsea’s John Terry and Valencia’s Roberto Ayala are also players reported to be on Ferguson’s ‘to be considered’ list.

Money is unlikely to be an issue, although according to departing chairman Martin Edwards United would probably already have the greatest side in Europe had BSkyB’s £623m (€872m) bid to take over the club had gone through back in 1998.

The deal – opposed by fans – was blocked by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission – but Edwards, who has now stood down after more than 30 years on the United board, insisted it would lave marked a watershed in the Red Devils’ fortunes.

“If Sky had taken over the club, would we now be in the position Real Madrid are,” he told BBC GMR.

“Would Sky have bought Ronaldo, Zidane and Figo. I don’t know but I suspect Sky would have wanted it to be the most successful club in Europe, therefore maybe we did miss an opportunity.”