ADDED VALUE: Veloso (left), 21, is a defensive midfielder who can also play in defence. He has five Portugal caps to his name. Moutinho (right), club captain at 21 and with 11 caps for country, has been compared to Rui Costa, considered one of the best playmakers to come from Portugal. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Portugal and Sporting Lisbon stars Joao Moutinho and Miguel Veloso top his shopping list. They would not come cheap and a combined price of £32 million has been touted.

But, given that Sporting have already had a hand in producing United winger Cristiano Ronaldo, Ferguson is confident that his new additions can help increase the depth of his squad.

Moutinho, club captain at 21 and with 11 caps for his country, has been compared to former AC Milan player Rui Costa, considered one of the best playmakers to come from Portugal owing to his vision and pinpoint passing.

Veloso, also 21, is more a defensive midfielder who can also play in defence. He has five Portugal caps to his name.

Ferguson's assistant, Carlos Queiroz, watched the pair in their Uefa Cup defeat by Rangers last week.

He also watched Wigan midfielders Wilson Palacios and Antonio Valencia in the recent home win over Birmingham and came away impressed, reported The Sun.

Palacios, 23, rated at £6 million, has been a key figure in Wigan's relegation battle since his January switch from Honduran side Olimpia.

Valencia, 22, moved to Wigan after impressing for Ecuador in the 2006 World Cup and is valued at about £4 million.

The stress on young players is no coincidence. Ferguson is eyeing long-term replacements for veterans Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville.

Said Giggs: 'I don't see why this team can't dominate for the next few years. It just depends whether the younger players have the hunger and desire to keep on winning trophies, but I'm sure that's the case.'

Chelsea will also be heavily involved in the market at the end of the season, but coach Avram Grant is looking for more than just potential.

He believes they will need to sign a global superstar if they hope to regain their place at the top of English football, having lost their crown to United last season, reported The Telegraph.

When asked if it would take talents such as Kaka or Barcelona's Lionel Messi to breathe new life into his side, Grant admitted: 'I will not speak about names, but let's say I wouldn't object to one of those names being here next season.

'We know United will spend money, Arsenal will also buy, and Liverpool too. We will do the same.

'I think the big players would come. We're a big club, but I think we want to be bigger.'

However, top target David Villa, who has scored 63 goals over the last three seasons for Valencia, is ready to snub the Blues for Arsenal.

Grant is thought to have contacted the Spanish club about a move for the £20 million striker.

But Villa said: 'I watch the Premier League a lot and the team I'm most attracted to is definitely Arsenal.

'Their brilliant one- and two-touch football and the whole style of rapid counter-attack is the one which suits my game best of all.

'I think I'm made to succeed in England. Of course it's one thing saying it and quite another getting there and doing it.'

If Villa cannot agree a deal with Arsenal, his next option would be to join fellow Spanish international Fernando Torres at Liverpool. He believes they would form a potent partnership.

'It's great playing alongside Fernando,' he said. 'We understand each other totally.'

Arsenal's top priority next season is to solve their goalkeeping problem, after below-par displays by Manuel Almunia and Jens Lehmann.

Manager Arsene Wenger believes the £12 million Brazilian, Heurelho Gomes, may be the answer. The 1.96-metre PSV Eindhoven crowd favourite, who is able to throw the ball all the way deep into the opponents' half, has already been linked with AC Milan.